Do
/duː/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo perform or carry out a task or activity; to act in a particular way.
/duː/
To perform an action, activity, or task.
Can you do the laundry, please?
💡 Simply: Imagine you're asked to complete a task, like cleaning your room. 'Do' means to actually carry out that action. Like, "Can you *do* your chores?"
👶 For kids: To work on something or to make something happen. Like, "Can you *do* your homework?"
More Examples
He does the dishes after dinner.
They did well on the exam.
How It's Used
"I do my homework every evening."
"She does the dishes after dinner."
An auxiliary verb used to form questions, negatives, and to emphasize a verb.
/duː/
Used to form questions, negations, and emphasis.
Do you know the answer?
💡 Simply: Sometimes, the word 'do' doesn't mean to *do* something, but it helps us build a sentence. Like when asking a question, 'Do you like pizza?' or when saying you don't like something, like 'I do not like broccoli.'
👶 For kids: A special helping word. It helps make questions like 'Do you want to play?' or tells you something is not happening, like 'I do not want to eat that.'
More Examples
I do not like broccoli.
He does play the piano.
How It's Used
"Do you like ice cream? I do not agree."
"I do want to go to the party!"
An informal term for a party, event, or gathering.
/duː/
A performance or event.
They're having a big do this weekend.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're invited to a party. Sometimes people call that party a *do*. It's a fun event!
👶 For kids: It is a fun time with friends, like a party or a game.
More Examples
The birthday do was a blast.
How It's Used
"It was a great do!"
The first note in a musical scale; the tonic.
/dəʊ/
The tonic or first note in a musical scale.
She sang the do in perfect pitch.
💡 Simply: In music, 'do' is the very first note, the starting sound of a scale, like *do re mi fa sol la ti do!*
👶 For kids: The very first sound note in a musical song.
More Examples
The melody begins on do.
How It's Used
"Sing the do, re, mi scale."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
do away with
To abolish or get rid of something.
"The government decided to do away with the old tax system."
do up
To fasten, button, or tie something; to decorate or renovate.
"He did up his shoelaces."
do without
To manage without something; to live without something that is usually needed.
"I can do without sugar in my coffee."
to do the trick
To have the desired effect; to solve a problem successfully.
"A little bit of oil should do the trick to fix the squeaky door."
to do someone wrong
To treat someone unfairly; to cause harm or injustice.
"The company did the employees wrong by cutting their benefits."
what do you do?
What is your occupation?
"So, what do you do for a living?"
From Old English *dōn, from Proto-Germanic *dōną, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- ('to put, place, do').
Used extensively throughout history in various forms and contexts. Has been a fundamental part of English grammar and vocabulary.
Memory tip
Think of the action of *doing* something – the physical or mental process.
Word Origin
"To put, place, do"