dote

dote — verb

  • dotepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • dotes3rd person singular
  • doting-ing form
  • dotedpast simple

1. to become mentally weaker or less alert because of old age, often showing forget

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to become mentally weaker or less alert because of old age, often showing forgetfulness or confusion.

例句

After her 90th birthday, Aunt Rosa began to dote, sometimes mistaking her grandson for her late husband.

dote used as bare intransitive verb

The old professor started to dote in his later years, repeating the same stories every afternoon.

started to + dote — gradual onset

同義詞

文法句型

dote (no object)

用法筆記

Frequently appears in literature or historical writing. In modern conversation, 'become senile' or 'lose one's faculties' is more common. This sense is etymologically the root of 'dotage' and 'dotard'.

常見錯誤

❌My grandfather is doting since last year' (incorrect use of continuous).
✅My grandfather began to dote a few years ago after his memory started failing.
💡The sense is usually about a gradual process, not an ongoing action.

2. to have a tendency to show too much love and attention to the people you care ab

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to have a tendency to show too much love and attention to the people you care about, often treating them like they can do nothing wrong.

例句

Tara dotes constantly — every payday she sends gift packages to her friends without fail.

dote as bare intransitive verb describing a habit

Cyrus is the kind of father who dotes, keeping a detailed scrapbook of every drawing his daughter makes.

同義詞
  • adore

    focuses on internal feeling rather than observable behaviour

  • indulge

    emphasises giving in to wishes, often with a negative tone

  • spoil

    implies the affection damages the person's character

  • pamper

    focuses on physical comfort and treats, less emotional than 'dote'

文法句型

dote (bare intransitive, no complement)

用法筆記

This sense describes a general personality trait or habit, not an action directed at someone. It is used without a named recipient: 'she just dotes.' When you want to name the person receiving the affection, use the phrasal verb 'dote on/upon'. The phrasal verb is far more common in everyday English.

常見錯誤

❌My grandmother dotes me with gifts.
✅My grandmother dotes on me with gifts.
💡When naming the recipient of the affection, use the phrasal verb 'dote on/upon', not the bare verb 'dote'.
❌She is always doting her children.
✅She is the type of mother who dotes.
💡Use the bare verb for a general character description. To describe a specific action directed at someone, use 'dote on/upon'.