Word OriginOld 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’.
Example of vocabulary do1action
used to refer to actions that you do not mention by name or do not know about
What are you doing this evening?
We will do what we can to help.
Are you doing anything tomorrow evening?
The company ought to do something about the poor service.
What have you done to your hair?
There's nothing to do (= no means of passing the time in an enjoyable way) in this place.
There's nothing we can do about it (= we can't change the situation).
What can I do for you (= how can I help)?
Example of vocabulary do1behave
to act or behave in the way mentioned
Do as you're told!
They are free to do as they please.
You would do well to (= I advise you to) consider all the options before buying.
Extra examples:
Just do what they tell you to do.
Do whatever you like.
Example of vocabulary do1succeed/progress
used to ask or talk about the success or progress of somebody/something
How is the business doing?
She did well out of (= made a big profit from) the deal.
He's doing very well at school (= his work is good).
Both mother and baby are doing well (= after the birth of the baby).
How are you doing (= how are you)?
Example of vocabulary do1task/activity
to work at or perform an activity or a task
I'm doing some research on the subject.
I have a number of things to do today.
I do aerobics once a week.
Let's do (= meet for) lunch.
Sorry. I don't do funny (= I can't be funny).
to perform the activity or task mentioned
I like listening to the radio when I'm doing the ironing.
You could help me by doing the dishes.
She did a lot of acting when she was at college.
used with nouns to talk about tasks such as cleaning, washing, arranging, etc.
to do (= wash) the dishes
to do (= arrange) the flowers
I like the way you've done your hair.
Example of vocabulary do1job
to work at something as a job
What do you do (= what is your job)?
What does she want to do when she leaves school?
What did she do for a living?
What's Tom doing these days?
Example of vocabulary do1study
to learn or study something
I'm doing physics, biology and chemistry.
Have you done any (= studied anything by) Keats?
Example of vocabulary do1solve
to find the answer to something; to solve something
I can't do this sum.
Are you good at doing crosswords?
Example of vocabulary do1make
to produce, make or provide something
to do a drawing/painting/sketch
Does this pub do lunches?
Who's doing the food for the wedding reception?
Many hotels don't do single rooms at all.
I'll do a copy for you.
I'll do you a copy.
Extra examples:
He did a beautiful drawing of a house.
Who's doing the flowers for the wedding?
Example of vocabulary do1be suitable/enough
to be suitable or be enough for somebody/something
‘Can you lend me some money?’ ‘Sure—will $20 do?’
These shoes won't do for the party.
The box will do fine as a table.
This room will do me nicely, thank you (= it has everything I need).
Example of vocabulary do1perform
to perform or produce a play, an opera, etc.
The local dramatic society is doing ‘Hamlet’ next month.
Example of vocabulary do1copy somebody
to copy somebody’s behaviour or the way somebody speaks, sings, etc., especially in order to make people laugh
He does a great Elvis Presley.
Can you do a Welsh accent?
Example of vocabulary do1finish
to finish something
Sit there and wait till I'm done.
I've done talking—let's get started.
Did you get your article done in time?
Example of vocabulary do1travel
to travel a particular distance
How many miles did you do during your tour?
My car does 40 miles to the gallon (= uses one gallon of petrol to travel 40 miles).
to complete a journey
We did the round trip in two hours.
Example of vocabulary do1speed
to travel at or reach a particular speed
The car was doing 90 miles an hour.
Example of vocabulary do1visit
to visit a place as a tourist
We did Tokyo in three days.
Example of vocabulary do1spend time
to spend a period of time doing something
She did a year at college, but then dropped out.
He did six years (= in prison) for armed robbery.
Example of vocabulary do1deal with
to deal with or attend to somebody/something
The hairdresser said she could do me (= cut my hair) at three.
Example of vocabulary do1cook
to cook something
How would you like your steak done?
Example of vocabulary do1cheat
to cheat somebody
This isn't a genuine antique—you've been done.
Example of vocabulary do1punish
to punish somebody
They did him for tax evasion.
She got done for speeding.
Example of vocabulary do1steal
to steal from a place
The gang did a warehouse and a supermarket.
Example of vocabulary do1take drugs
to take an illegal drug
He doesn't smoke, drink or do drugs.
Example of vocabulary do1have sex
to have sex with somebody
Idioms of vocabulary do1
be/have (got) nothing/not much to do with somebody/something
to be something that somebody does not need to know about or should not get involved in
It's my decision—it's nothing to do with you.
‘How much do you earn?’ ‘What's it got to do with you?’
We don't have very much to do with our neighbours (= we do not speak to them very often).
I'd have nothing to do with him, if I were you.
be/have to do with somebody/something | have (got) something, a lot, etc. to do with somebody/something
to be about or connected with somebody/something
‘What do you want to see me about?’ ‘It's to do with that letter you sent me.’
Her job has something to do with computers.
Hard work has a lot to do with (= is an important reason for) her success.
do right, well, etc. by somebody
to treat somebody in a way that is right, good, etc.
If we cannot keep the streets safe, then we are not doing right by the people of this country.
We need to do better by children failed by our care system.
We have done badly by the unemployed.
it won’t do
(especially British English)used to say that a situation is not acceptable and should be changed or improved
This is the third time you've been late this week; it simply won't do.
not do anything/a lot/much for somebody
(informal)used to say that something does not make somebody look attractive
That hairstyle doesn't do anything for her.
nothing doing
(informal)used to refuse a request
‘Can you lend me ten dollars?’ ‘Nothing doing!’
no you don’t
(informal)used to show that you intend to stop somebody from doing something that they were going to do
Sharon went to get into the taxi. ‘Oh no you don't,’ said Steve.
that does it
(informal)used to show that you will not accept something any longer
That does it, I'm off. I'm not having you swear at me like that.
that’s done it
(informal)used to say that an accident, a mistake, etc. has had a very bad effect on something
That's done it. You've completely broken it this time.
that will do
used to order somebody to stop doing or saying something
That'll do, children—you're getting far too noisy.
what do you do for something?
used to ask how somebody manages to obtain the thing mentioned
What do you do for entertainment out here?
what is somebody/something doing…?
used to ask why somebody/something is in the place mentioned
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