dough

noun

ˈdō How to pronounce dough (audio)
Synonyms of doughnext
1
: a mixture that consists essentially of flour or meal and a liquid (such as milk or water) and is stiff enough to knead or roll
2
: something resembling dough especially in consistency
3
: money
doesn't have much dough
4
military : doughboy
doughlike
ˈdō-ˌlīk How to pronounce dough (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of dough

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Examples of dough in a Sentence

I don't have much dough. didn't have to spend a lot of dough for a new stereo
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Certain items in the front of the shelf in a refrigeration section measured above 41 degrees (cookie dough 45 degrees, sour cream 47 degrees). — Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 To save her hobby and help other bakers, she and friend, cofounder, and fellow sourdough enthusiast Alexis Dalinka set out to solve the sticky problem of cleaning dough and sourdough starter off of surfaces and tools. — Nina Elder, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Scoop the cookie dough in small portions all over the top of the brownie batter, leaving space between them for the brownie batter to rise up during baking. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, whisk together 3 cups flour and 1 1/2 tsp. — Hali Bey Ramdene, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dough

Word History

Etymology

Middle English doh, dogh, dowe, going back to Old English dāg, going back to Germanic *daiga- (whence Middle Dutch deech "dough," Old High German teig, Old Norse deig, deigr, Gothic daigs), ablaut derivative from the base of *digan-, *dīgan- "to knead, shape" (whence Gothic digan, gadigan "to knead, form from clay"), going back to Indo-European *dhei̯ǵh- "knead, shape" — more at feign

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dough was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing dough

Rhymes for dough

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Browse Nearby Words

doug
dough
dough-baked
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Cite this Entry

“Dough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dough. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dough

noun
ˈdō How to pronounce dough (audio)
1
: a soft mass of moistened flour or meal thick enough to knead or roll
2
: something resembling dough especially in consistency
3
: money sense 1a
doughy
ˈdō-ē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on dough

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dough

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