do1

Syllabification: (do)

Pronunciation: /do͞o/

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Definition of do

verb (does /dəz/; doing; past did /did/; past participle done /dən/)

1 [with object] perform (an action, the precise nature of which is often unspecified):something must be done about the city’s traffic she knew what she was doing what can I do for you? Brian was making eyes at the girl, and had been doing so for most of the hearing
perform (a particular task):Dad always did the cooking on Sundays
work on (something) to bring it to completion or to a required state:it takes them longer to do their hair than me she’s the secretary and does the publicity
make or have available and provide:he’s doing bistro food many hotels don’t do single rooms at all [with two objects]:he decided to do her a favor
solve; work out:Joe was doing sums aloud
cook (food) to completion or to a specified degree:if a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, then your pie is done
(often in questions) work at for a living:what does she do?
produce or give a performance of (a particular play, opera, etc.):the Royal Shakespeare Company is doing Macbeth next month
perform (a particular role, song, etc.) or imitate (a particular person) in order to entertain people:he not only does Schwarzenegger and Groucho, he becomes them
informal take (a narcotic drug):he doesn’t smoke, drink, or do drugs
attend to (someone):the barber said he’d do me next
vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with.
(do it) informal have sexual intercourse.
(do it) informal urinate; defecate.

2 [with object] achieve or complete, in particular.
travel (a specified distance):one car I looked at had done 112,000 miles
travel at (a specified speed):I was speeding, doing seventy-five
make (a particular journey):last time I did New York-Philadelphia round trip by train it was over 80 bucks
achieve (a specified sales figure):our bestselling album did about a million worldwide
informal visit as a tourist, especially in a superficial or hurried way:the tourists are allotted only a day to “do” Verona
spend (a specified period of time), typically in prison or in a particular occupation:he did five years for manslaughter
[no object] informal finish:you must sit there and wait till I’m done [with present participle]:we’re done arguing
(be done) be over:the special formula continues to beautify your tan when the day is done
(be/have done with) give up concern for: have finished with:I would sell the place and have done with it Steve was not done with her

3 [no object] act or behave in a specified way:they are free to do as they please you did well to bring her back
make progress or perform in a specified way; get on:when a team is doing badly, it’s not easy for a new player to settle in Mrs. Walters, how’re you doing?
[with object and complement] have a specified effect on:the walk will do me good
[with object] result in:the years of stagnation did a lot of harm to the younger generation

4 [no object] be suitable or acceptable:if he’s anything like you, he’ll do [with object]:a couple of bucks’ll do me

5 [with object] informal beat up; kill:he was the guy who did Maranzano
(usually be done) ruin:once you falter, you’re done
rob (a place):this would be an easy place to do, and there was plenty of money lying around
British swindle:in business you had to do your competitors before they did you

6 [with object] (usually be/get done for) British informal prosecute; convict:we got done for conspiracy to commit murder

verb

1used before a verb (except be, can, may, ought, shall, will) in questions and negative statements:do you have any pets? did he see me? I don’t smoke it does not matter
used to make tag questions:you write poetry, don’t you? I never seem to say the right thing, do I?
used in negative commands:don’t be silly do not forget

2used to refer to a verb already mentioned:he looks better than he did before you wanted to enjoy yourself, and you did as the cops get smarter, so do the crooks

3used to give emphasis to a positive verb:I do want to act on this he did look tired
used in positive commands to give polite encouragement:do tell me! do sit down

4used with inversion of a subject and verb when an adverbial phrase begins a clause for emphasis:only rarely did they succumb not only did the play close, the theater closed

noun (plural dos or do's)

1 (also 'do) informalshort for hairdo.

2 informal, chiefly British a party or other social event:the soccer club Christmas do

3British archaic or informal a swindle or hoax.

Phrases

be to do with: be concerned or connected with:the problems are usually to do with family tension
do a ——: informal behave in a manner characteristic of (a specified person):he did a Garbo after his flop in the play
do battle: enter into a conflict.
do someone's head (or nut) in: British informal make someone extremely angry, worried, or agitated.
do the honors: see honor.
do someone/something justice: see justice.
don't —— me: informal do not use the word —— to me:“Don’t morning me. Where the hell’ve you been all night?”
do or die: persist, even if death is the result.; used to describe a critical situation where one’s actions may result in victory or defeat:the 72nd hole was do or die
dos and don'ts: rules of behavior:I have no knowledge of the political dos and don’ts
do well for oneself: become successful or wealthy.
have (got) —— to do with: be connected with (someone or something) to the extent specified:half the country believed rock ‘n’ roll had something to do with national decline John’s got a lot to do with that bribery scandal
have nothing to do with: have no contact or dealings with:Billy and his father have had nothing to do with each other for nearly twenty years; be no business or concern of:it’s my decision—it has nothing to do with you; be unconnected with:he says his departure has nothing to do with the calls for his resignation
it isn't done: British used to express the speaker’s opinion that something contravenes custom, opinion, or propriety:in such a society it is not done to admit to taking religion seriously
it won't do: used to express the speaker’s opinion that someone’s behavior is unsatisfactory and cannot be allowed to continue:Don’t talk like that—I’ve told you before, it won’t do
no you don't: informal used to indicate that one intends to prevent someone from doing what they were about to do:Sharon went to get in the taxi. “Oh no you don’t,” said Steve
that does it!: informal used to indicate that one will not tolerate something any longer:That does it! Let’s go!
that's done it!: British informal used to express dismay or anger when something has gone wrong.

Phrasal Verbs

do away with: informal put an end to; remove:the desire to do away with racism; kill:he didn’t have the courage to do away with her
do by: dated treat or deal with in a specified way:do as you would be done by she did well by them
do someone/something down: British informal get the better of someone, typically in an underhanded way.; criticize someone or something:they’re always moaning and doing British industry down
do for
do something (or nothing) for: informal enhance (or detract from) the appearance or quality of:that scarf does nothing for you
do someone in: informal kill someone.; (usually be done in) informal tire someone out:after hiking in the hills all day, I was utterly done in
do someone out of: informal deprive someone of (something) in an underhanded or unfair way.
do something out: British informal decorate or furnish a room or building in a particular style, color, or material:the basement is done out in limed oak
do someone over: British informal beat someone up.
do something over
do someone up: (usually be done up) dress someone up, especially in an elaborate or impressive way:Agnes was all done up in a slinky black number
do something up: (usually be done up) arrange one’s hair in a particular way, especially so as to be pulled back from one’s face or shoulders:her dark hair was done up in a pony tail; wrap something up:unwieldy packages all done up with twine
do with: [with modal] would find useful or would like to have or do:I could do with a cup of coffee; (can't/won't be doing with) British be unwilling to tolerate or be bothered with:she couldn’t be doing with meals for one
do without: (usually can do without) manage without:she could do without cigarettes for a day; informal would prefer not to have:I can do without your complaints first thing in the morning

Origin:

Old English dōn, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch doen and German tun, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek tithēmi 'I place' and Latin facere 'make, do'

Grammar

An auxiliary verb. Like be and have, do can be used both as an auxiliary and as a main verb. It is a common and useful main verb in sentences such as:Overcoats will do more than keep you warm this winter. Toyota has done a lot of work in this area, starting back with the Prius. Another assassin is waiting to do him in. As an auxiliary verb it is used: to make negative statements:Water lilies do not grow well if water is falling onto their leaves. to form questions:“Do you understand me?” he asked a second time. to form tag questions:Well, it doesn’t matter about anyone else, does it? They didn’t act like police, did they? for emphasis:And he does like to travel. to avoid repetition:I think you all know him better than I do.

do in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of do in the British & World English dictionary

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verb (does /dəz/; doing; past did /did/; past participle done /dən/)

verb

noun (plural dos or do's)

Phrases

be to do with

do a ——

do battle

do someone's head (or nut) in

do the honors

do someone/something justice

don't —— me

do or die

dos and don'ts

do well for oneself

have (got) —— to do with

have nothing to do with

it isn't done

it won't do

no you don't

that does it!

that's done it!

Phrasal Verbs

do away with

do by

do someone/something down

do for

do something (or nothing) for

do someone in

do someone out of

do something out

do someone over

do something over

do someone up

do something up

do with

do without

Origin:

Grammar

do in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for do

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