noun
doormat
DAW-mat
Doormat (noun) means a mat placed at an entrance for wiping shoes before going inside. Example: “Wipe your feet on the doormat before you come in.”
noun
1
A mat placed at an entrance for wiping shoes before going inside.
"Wipe your shoes on the doormat before you start plodding around in the house."
"Dimple glanced at an expensive-looking doormat with the words ‘LOSE THE SHOES’ woven into it and wondered why anyone would bother spending so much money on something people were going to wipe their feet on."
— Candice Carty-Williams, People Person (2022)
"Mr. Simpson adds that the station at Stanmore appears practically unchanged from the time of its opening, even to the L.N.W.R. rubber doormat, which "shows no signs of wearing out.""
— , Notes and News: The Stanmore Branch (1942)
"Wipe your feet on the doormat before you come in."
2
(informal) A person who lets others walk all over them, too passive to stand up for themselves.
"She finally stopped being a doormat and told her boss no."
How to use doormat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mat by the door, or figuratively someone who is too easily pushed around.
Common pairings
treat someone like a doormat
stop being a doormat
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Word forms
- Plural
- doormats
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Wipe your feet on the _____ before you come in.
Etymology
A compound of "door" and "mat."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for doormat
See all rhymes for doormat →Frequently asked questions
What does “doormat” mean?
The word “doormat” means a mat placed at an entrance for wiping shoes before going inside. In plain terms, a mat by the door, or figuratively someone who is too easily pushed around.
How do you pronounce “doormat”?
“Doormat” is pronounced DAW-mat (/ˈdɔɹˌmæt/ in IPA).
How do you use “doormat” in a sentence?
Here is “doormat” used in a sentence: “Wipe your feet on the doormat before you come in.”
What part of speech is “doormat”?
“Doormat” is a noun.
How many meanings does “doormat” have?
“Doormat” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mat placed at an entrance for wiping shoes before going inside.
