DOA
Americanabbreviation
Usage
What does DOA mean? DOA stands for dead on arrival. Outside of law enforcement and hospitals, DOA is used figuratively for a hopeless situation or something doomed from the start. How is DOA pronounced?[ dee-oh-ey ]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After the framework was released, Davidson posted a blunt prediction on X: "DOA," shorthand for "dead on arrival."
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Nothing is careless about “The Pitt”—when a biker arrives, DOA, a few episodes later, you know people are thinking.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 6, 2026
The three other gals — Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor and Isabela Merced — well, they were clearly cast for a potential future standalone film, which has to be DOA at this point.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2024
If Elon Musk’s tweets are pure lizard-brain id, Bezos’ tweets are all superego — my guy probably workshops them, which is why they’re DOA, emotionally.
From The Verge ● May 16, 2022
Under that, a bright orange flier for DOA Recording Studios, offering commissions for heroes’ souls.
From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
