# doodle

/ˈdudəɫ/ (US) · /dˈuːdəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/doodle
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a simple drawing you make while you are thinking about something else. You might do this while you are on the phone or in a meeting.

For teachers: a rough drawing or scribble produced while a person's attention is otherwise occupied. Often used to describe spontaneous sketches in the margins of notebooks.

## Examples

- I made a little doodle of a flower during the meeting.
- The margins of his history textbook were filled with intricate doodles of spaceships and robots.
- While the speaker's presentation was technically proficient, the audience's wandering attention was evidenced by the elaborate doodles appearing on their provided note-pads.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used with the verb 'to do' or 'to make'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.