Definition of do

Short definition: The word do means to perform an action, complete a task, or make something happen. The word do is also used as a helper verb in questions and negatives, making it one of the most important words in basic English.

Looking for a clear and real-life explanation of the word do? The word do is one of the most useful verbs in English. We use it to talk about actions, responsibilities, tasks, habits, and even to build questions and negative sentences in grammar. Although it looks short and simple, do carries a huge part of everyday communication. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed, natural way with long examples that show how people truly use this word.

Verb forms: do, does, doing, did, done
Related: doer n., doable adj., doing n.
Syllable: do

1. (Verb) To perform an action, task, or activity.
   She always does her homework right after school, so she can relax in the evening without stress.
   He did everything he could to help his team finish the project on time.
   Sometimes you just need to do your best, even when the situation feels difficult.

   Synonyms: perform, carry out, complete, accomplish, execute, handle, manage, take care of, deal with, fulfill, undertake, conduct
   Antonyms: avoid, neglect, ignore, fail to act, postpone, abandon, leave undone, skip, refuse to do, quit, give up, drop

2. (Verb) To work at or be engaged in a particular job or activity.
   She does marketing for a small company, where she helps build their online presence.
   He does freelance design work whenever he has extra time.
   What do you do for a living, and what made you choose that career?

   Synonyms: work in, be employed in, practice, engage in, handle professionally, pursue, take up, operate in, perform duties in, carry on, follow as a job, be active in
   Antonyms: be unemployed, stop working, quit a job, retire, stay idle, avoid work, be inactive, drop out, leave profession, give up work, rest permanently, stay jobless

3. (Verb) To deal with or manage a situation.
   I don’t know what to do when everything seems to go wrong at once.
   She did her best to handle the pressure calmly.
   They do well in stressful situations, because they stay focused and organized.

   Synonyms: manage, handle, cope with, deal with, address, tackle, face, respond to, take charge of, work through, resolve, navigate
   Antonyms: avoid dealing with, ignore problems, run from, escape responsibility, mishandle, fail to cope, panic, freeze, give up control, lose grip, fall apart, surrender

4. (Verb) To be enough or suitable for a purpose.
   This small table will do for now until we buy a bigger one.
   A simple explanation will do, so you don’t need to go into too much detail.
   Don’t worry, this solution will do until we find something better.

   Synonyms: be enough, suffice, work fine, be suitable, serve the purpose, meet the need, fit the bill, be acceptable, be adequate, be okay, do the job, be sufficient
   Antonyms: not be enough, fail to satisfy, fall short, be insufficient, be unsuitable, not work, be inadequate, miss the mark, disappoint, not meet needs, be lacking, be unacceptable

5. (Auxiliary Verb) Used to form questions and negatives in simple tenses.
   Do you understand the instructions, or would you like me to explain again?
   She does not agree with the decision, but she respects the process.
   They did not realize how serious the problem was at first.

   Synonyms: auxiliary verb, helper verb, question marker, negative marker, grammar support, tense helper, sentence builder, emphasis tool, structural verb, grammatical aid, support verb, syntax helper
   Antonyms: omit auxiliary, skip grammar support, misuse tense, break sentence structure, ignore verb agreement, distort syntax, remove helper verb, confuse tense, lose clarity, misuse auxiliary, drop question form, fail grammar

6. (Auxiliary Verb) Used for emphasis in positive statements.
   I do care about your opinion, even if I don’t always show it clearly.
   She does try her best in everything she does.
   We did enjoy the trip, even though the weather wasn’t perfect.

   Synonyms: emphasize, stress, highlight, reinforce, add emphasis, underline importance, show certainty, strengthen statement, confirm strongly, assert clearly, emphasize truth, make clear
   Antonyms: downplay, weaken statement, reduce emphasis, minimize importance, understate, doubt openly, hedge words, soften claim, avoid certainty, lessen impact, blur meaning, reduce clarity