Do Word Meaning

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’

perform (an action, the precise nature of which is often unspecified)

perform action

• very little work has been done in this field
• she knew what she was doing
• something must be done about the city's traffic
• what can I do for you?
• what a lot there is to do!
• Brian was looking at the girl, and had been doing so for most of the hearing

used before a verb (except be, can, may, ought, shall, will) in questions and negative statements

before verb in questions and negative statements

• do you have any pets?
• did he see me?
• I don't smoke
• it does not matter

achieve or complete

achieve or complete

• I never really got the chance to finish school or do my exams

used to refer back to a verb already mentioned

referring back to verb

• he looks better than he did before
• you wanted to enjoy yourself, and you did
• as they get smarter, so do the crooks
• I paid for my two tickets on the train and did so without complaint

act or behave in a specified way

behave in specified way

• they are free to do as they please
• you did well to bring her back

used to give emphasis to a positive verb

emphasizing positive verb

• I do want to act on this
• he did look tired

be suitable or acceptable

be suitable or acceptable

• if he's anything like you, he'll do
• a couple of quid'll do me

used with inversion of a subject and verb when an adverbial phrase begins a clause for emphasis

in adverbial phrase beginning clause for emphasis

• only rarely did they succumb
• not only did the play close, the theatre closed

beat up or kill

beat up or kill

• one day I'll do him

a party or other social event

party or social event

• the soccer club Christmas do

hairdo

• a bowl-shaped do of perfect silky hair

excrement

excrement

• the air was rancid with the smell of donkey doo
• they'll be the first to come begging for help when the do hits the fan

a swindle or hoax.

swindle or hoax