doughnut
noun
dough·nut
ˈdō-(ˌ)nət 
variants
or less commonly donut
1
: a small usually ring-shaped piece of sweet fried dough
2
: something (such as a mathematical torus) that has a round shape like a doughnut
3
: a controlled skid that sends an automobile into a tight circle of at least 360 degrees
—usually used in the phrase do doughnuts
Doing doughnuts? You haven't heard about this? This is what they steal the cars for. Top speed, they slam on the brakes, yank the emergency brake, twist the steering wheel, and the car starts spinning. Wheeling the car in circles at tremendous speeds.—
Philip Roth
Philip Roth
Examples of doughnut in a Sentence
drawing doughnuts in the sand
Recent Examples on the Web
Krispy Kreme is partnering with Kit Kat on an all-new collection of three doughnuts that will feature creamy chocolate and crispy wafers, the doughnut giant said Wednesday.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Krispy Kreme's Oreo Doughnut From April 5 to April 8, families can head to Krispy Kreme for a doughnut that looks kind of like a total solar eclipse.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
What is the Krispy Kreme total solar eclipse doughnut?
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 2 Apr. 2024
Others would be dispatched to buy snacks at a gas station or a Dunkin’ doughnut shop just off the bridge.
—William Wan, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
This week, the fast-food giant announced its plan to roll out Krispy Kreme doughnuts at McDonald’s locations nationwide.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
What Krispy Kreme doughnut varieties will be sold at McDonald’s restaurants?
—The Indianapolis Star, 26 Mar. 2024
The filled doughnut hole-sized treats come in three different flavors: cookie butter, hazelnut and apple cinnamon.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024
Three of Krispy Kreme’s most popular doughnuts will be delivered fresh to McDonald’s restaurants every day.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Krispy Kreme's Oreo Doughnut From April 5 to April 8, families can head to Krispy Kreme for a doughnut that looks kind of like a total solar eclipse.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
What is the Krispy Kreme total solar eclipse doughnut?
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 2 Apr. 2024
Others would be dispatched to buy snacks at a gas station or a Dunkin’ doughnut shop just off the bridge.
—William Wan, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
This week, the fast-food giant announced its plan to roll out Krispy Kreme doughnuts at McDonald’s locations nationwide.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
What Krispy Kreme doughnut varieties will be sold at McDonald’s restaurants?
—The Indianapolis Star, 26 Mar. 2024
The filled doughnut hole-sized treats come in three different flavors: cookie butter, hazelnut and apple cinnamon.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024
Three of Krispy Kreme’s most popular doughnuts will be delivered fresh to McDonald’s restaurants every day.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'doughnut.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
dough + nut entry 1 (in sense "rounded cake or biscuit," as in ginger nut, spice nut)
First Known Use
1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to doughnut
Dictionary Entries Near doughnut
Cite this Entry
“Doughnut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doughnut. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
doughnut
noun
dough·nut
variants
also donut
-(ˌ)nət
1
: a small ring of sweet dough fried in fat
2
: something resembling a doughnut especially in shape
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