DO (did, done)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does DO mean? 

• DO (noun)
  The noun DO has 3 senses:

1. an uproarious party

2. the syllable naming the first (tonic) note of any major scale in solmization

3. doctor's degree in osteopathy

  Familiarity information: DO used as a noun is uncommon.

• DO (verb)
  The verb DO has 13 senses:

1. engage in

2. carry out or perform an action

3. get (something) done

4. proceed or get along

5. give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

6. carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions

7. be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

8. create or design, often in a certain way

9. behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

10. spend time in prison or in a labor camp

11. carry on or function

12. arrange attractively

13. travel or traverse (a distance)

  Familiarity information: DO used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DO (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An uproarious party

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

bash; brawl; do

Hypernyms ("do" is a kind of...):

party (an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The syllable naming the first (tonic) note of any major scale in solmization

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

do; doh; ut

Hypernyms ("do" is a kind of...):

solfa syllable (one of the names for notes of a musical scale in solmization)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Doctor's degree in osteopathy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

DO; Doctor of Osteopathy

Hypernyms ("DO" is a kind of...):

doctor's degree; doctorate (one of the highest earned academic degrees conferred by a university)

• DO (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Engage in

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

do; make

Context example:

make revolution

Verb group:

make (perform or carry out)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "do"):

exaggerate; overdo (do something to an excessive degree)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Carry out or perform an action

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

do; execute; perform

Context example:

she did a little dance

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "do"):

practice; practise; rehearse (engage in a rehearsal (of))

make (perform or carry out)

conduct; direct; lead (lead, as in the performance of a composition)

interpret; render (give an interpretation or rendition of)

ad-lib; extemporise; extemporize; improvise; improvize (perform without preparation)

appear (appear as a character on stage or appear in a play, etc.)

star (be the star in a performance)

premier; premiere (perform a work for the first time)

churn out (perform in a mechanical way)

blaze away (perform (an acting passage) brilliantly and rapidly)

cut (perform or carry out)

stunt (perform a stunt or stunts)

cut corners (do something the cheapest or easiest way)

serenade (sing and play for somebody)

declaim; recite (recite in elocution)

pipe up (begin to play or sing)

carry (sing or play against other voices or parts)

click off (perform or finish an action rapidly)

scamp (perform hastily and carelessly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

doer (a person who acts and gets things done)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Get (something) done

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

do; perform

Context example:

I did my job

Hypernyms (to "do" is one way to...):

accomplish; action; carry out; carry through; execute; fulfil; fulfill (put in effect)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "do"):

turn (accomplish by rotating)

ply (apply oneself diligently)

do one's best; give full measure; give one's best; go all out (perform a task as well as possible)

misdo (do wrongly or improperly)

underachieve; underperform (perform less well or with less success than expected)

overachieve (perform better or achieve a greater degree of success than expected)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

doer (a person who acts and gets things done)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Proceed or get along

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

come; do; fare; get along; make out

Context example:

He's come a long way

Hypernyms (to "do" is one way to...):

go; proceed (follow a certain course)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective

Sense 5

Meaning:

Give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

cause; do; make

Context example:

cause an accident

Hypernyms (to "do" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "do"):

occasion (give occasion to)

facilitate (increase the likelihood of (a response))

force; impel (urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate)

actuate; incite; motivate; move; prompt; propel (give an incentive for action)

breed; engender; spawn (call forth)

make (compel or make somebody or something to act in a certain way)

effect; effectuate; set up (produce)

initiate; pioneer (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of)

determine; influence; mold; regulate; shape (shape or influence; give direction to)

call forth; evoke; kick up; provoke (evoke or provoke to appear or occur)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

do; exercise; practice; practise

Context example:

practice law

"Do" entails doing...:

do work; work (be employed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "do"):

shamanise; shamanize (practice shamanism)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

answer; do; serve; suffice

Context example:

Nothing else will serve

Hypernyms (to "do" is one way to...):

fulfil; fulfill; live up to; satisfy (meet the requirements or expectations of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "do"):

bridge over; keep going; tide over (suffice for a period between two points)

go a long way (suffice or be adequate for a while or to a certain extent)

function; serve (serve a purpose, role, or function)

measure up; qualify (prove capable or fit; meet requirements)

go around (be sufficient)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 8

Meaning:

Create or design, often in a certain way

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

do; make

Context example:

I did this piece in wood to express my love for the forest

Hypernyms (to "do" is one way to...):

create; make (create by artistic means)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

Did he do his major works over a short period of time?

Sense 9

Meaning:

Behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

act; behave; do

Context example:

The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people

Verb group:

act; dissemble; pretend (behave unnaturally or affectedly)

act; act as; play (pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "do"):

make (behave in a certain way)

act involuntarily; act reflexively (act in an uncontrolled manner)

rage; ramp; storm (behave violently, as if in state of a great anger)

loosen up; relax (become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner)

follow (accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of)

puff up; swell (become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger)

frivol; trifle (act frivolously)

footle (act foolishly, as by talking nonsense)

sauce (behave saucily or impudently towards)

hugger mugger (act stealthily or secretively)

backslap (display excessive cordiality (towards))

dally; dawdle (waste time)

break down; lose it; snap (lose control of one's emotions)

make as if (begin or appear to begin an action)

piffle (act in a trivial or ineffective way)

jest; joke (act in a funny or teasing way)

menace (act in a threatening manner)

bend over backwards; fall over backwards (try very hard to please someone)

presume (take liberties or act with too much confidence)

vulgarise; vulgarize (act in a vulgar manner)

optimise; optimize (act as an optimist and take a sunny view of the world)

quack (act as a medical quack or a charlatan)

stooge (act as a stooge, in a compliant or subordinate manner)

make (act in a certain way so as to acquire)

bluster; swagger; swash (act in an arrogant, overly self-assured, or conceited manner)

freeze (suddenly behave coldly and formally)

wanton (behave extremely cruelly and brutally)

romanticize (act in a romantic way)

sentimentalise; sentimentalize; sentimentise; sentimentize (act in a sentimental way or indulge in sentimental thoughts or expression)

bungle (spoil by behaving clumsily or foolishly)

play; toy (engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously)

act; act as; play (pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s Adjective

Sense 10

Meaning:

Spend time in prison or in a labor camp

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

do; serve

Context example:

He did six years for embezzlement

Hypernyms (to "do" is one way to...):

pass; spend (use up a period of time in a specific way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "do"):

admit (serve as a means of entrance)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 11

Meaning:

Carry on or function

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

do; manage

Context example:

We could do with a little more help around here

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 12

Meaning:

Arrange attractively

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

arrange; coif; coiffe; coiffure; do; dress; set

Context example:

dress my hair for the wedding

Hypernyms (to "do" is one way to...):

groom; neaten (care for one's external appearance)

Verb group:

curry; dress; groom (give a neat appearance to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "do"):

bob (cut hair in the style of a bob)

wave (set waves in)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They do their hair

Sense 13

Meaning:

Travel or traverse (a distance)

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

We did 6 miles on our hike every day

Hypernyms (to "do" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

“Your instructions will be done. It shall all be done,” said he.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He did not notice that a young woman had entered the room.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Now, my dear Watson, does anything remain for me to explain?

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Pshaw! They did not know how to look.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Face-to-face meetings will be very effective and help you do better than if you stay in touch only by telephone or email.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He worked hard from morning till night and did not know what joy was.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

When I had performed these wonders, they shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeating several times as they did at first, Hekinah degul.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Do you know where you are going, and what you are going to?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“That’ll do, Yonson,” one of the men said.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)