Doodles: meaning, definitions and examples

These are simple or abstract drawings often made without much thought, usually while a person is distracted or bored. They are informal and typically created during meetings, phone calls, or lectures.

• She filled the margins of her notebook with little doodles.
• I often find myself making doodles during long meetings.

These are hurried or careless lines that are often unintelligible. Scribbles are typically done without much attention or intention, and can appear as meaningless marks.

• The toddler left scribbles all over the wall.
• Her notes were just a bunch of scribbles.

Sketches are rough or unfinished drawings that capture the basic elements of a subject. They are often used as a preliminary step before creating a more detailed artwork.

• He showed me the initial sketches for his new painting.
• She always carries a sketchbook to capture her ideas on the go.

This is a more generic term that refers to any kind of picture created by making lines on a surface, usually with a pen, pencil, or similar tool. Drawings can be detailed and complex or simple and minimalistic.

• His drawings of landscapes are very detailed.
• She has a collection of beautiful drawings of animals.

Informal, often playful or whimsical; small drawings or patterns made absentmindedly.

• She filled the margins of her notebook with random doodles.
• During the meeting, he started to make doodles on a piece of scrap paper.

Usually a quick, rough drawing that captures the main features; can be the first step of an artwork or design.

• The artist did a quick sketch before starting the final painting.
• She keeps a journal where she sketches her ideas.

Often refers to quick, rough, or messy marks, frequently used by children or as a way to get ideas down quickly.

• The toddler covered the walls with colorful scribbles.
• He scribbled down the phone number on a napkin.

General term; can refer to both casual and formal illustrated works, requiring some skill and intention.

• The art class requires each student to finish a drawing by the end of the week.
• She showed me her latest drawing of a landscape.

Used when referring to simple, spontaneous drawings, often made absentmindedly, like in the margins of a notebook during a meeting or a phone call.

• She filled the corners of her notebook with cute little doodles while listening to the lecture

This is used when talking about quick, messy writing or drawing, often chaotic and hard to interpret. This term usually has a slightly negative connotation.

• Children often scribble on the walls before they learn to write properly
• His signature was nothing more than a quick scribble

Used for a rough or unfinished drawing, usually made to plan or design something more detailed later. It suggests intentionality and preparatory work.

• She made a quick sketch of the garden layout before starting the planting
• The artist spent an hour sketching the outline of the portrait

This is the general term for creating an image using a pencil, pen, or another tool. It can apply to a range of drawing activities from basic sketches to detailed illustrations.

• He likes to draw landscapes in his free time
• She draws portraits of her friends with remarkable detail