do
gb/dˈu/ us/dˈu/
A1
English
~ 100
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A1
action
1
Carry out an action or task
To make or complete an action, job, or task.
Usage pattern:
to do [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'make' and 'do'. Use 'do' for general tasks and activities, and 'make' for creating or producing something.
Synonyms
perform (More formal; often used for official or artistic tasks.)
|
carry out (Focuses on completing a planned or instructed action.)
Antonyms
neglect (To not do something you should do.)
Collocations
do homework
|do the dishes
|do a job
|do business
|do a favor
Themes
daily life
|work
|general actions
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- I need to do my homework before dinner.
- She does all the cooking in the family.
- We should do our part to help the environment.
- He did a great job on the project.
- They are doing important research on climate change.
Learner examples
- I do my homework every day.
- She does the dishes after dinner.
- We do our work in the morning.
- He does his job well.
- They do many things together.
Verb
A2
action
2
Achieve a result or standard
To be successful or perform in a certain way.
Usage pattern:
to do [well/badly/fine/etc.]
Synonyms
succeed (Implies achieving goals or desired outcomes.)
Antonyms
fail (To not succeed in reaching a goal.)
Collocations
do well
|do badly
|do fine
|do better
|do poorly
Themes
performance
|health
|core_vocabulary
|work
Examples
- He did well on the test.
- The company is doing poorly this year.
- You will do better if you practice more.
- She did fine in her first performance.
- How did you do in the interview?
Learner examples
- I did well on the exam.
- She did badly in the race.
- We will do better next time.
- He did fine at work today.
- They did poorly in the game.
Verb
A1
action
3
Take care of something
To take care of or handle something.
Usage pattern:
to do [the shopping/the cleaning/etc.]
Synonyms
handle (Focuses on managing something that needs attention.)
Antonyms
ignore (To not take care of something.)
Collocations
do the shopping
|do the cleaning
|do the laundry
Themes
daily life
|chores
|core_vocabulary
|work
|daily_life
Examples
- I will do the shopping tomorrow.
- She does the cleaning every Saturday.
- Can you do the laundry today?
- He did all the paperwork himself.
- They are doing the gardening this afternoon.
Learner examples
- I do the shopping on Friday.
- She does the cleaning every week.
- We do the laundry on Sunday.
- He does the cooking for his family.
- They do the gardening in summer.
Verb
A2
action
4
Act towards someone/something in some way
To act in a certain way toward someone or something.
Usage pattern:
to do [something] to [someone/something]
Synonyms
treat (Focuses on behavior toward someone.)
Antonyms
protect (Opposite when referring to harm or damage.)
Collocations
do harm
|do good
|do damage
Themes
behavior
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- What did they do to you?
- This medicine will do you good.
- That storm did a lot of damage to the roof.
- She always tries to do good in her community.
- Don't do anything you'll regret.
Learner examples
- He did something nice for me.
- The rain did damage to the house.
- She will do good for the team.
- They did harm to the garden.
- What did you do to her?
Verb
B1
action
5
Be acceptable or enough for purpose
To be good enough for what is needed.
Usage pattern:
'will do' as fixed phrase meaning 'will be acceptable'
Synonyms
suffice (More formal; means to be enough.)
Antonyms
fall short (To not be enough or suitable.)
Collocations
that will do
Themes
general actions
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- This pen will do for now.
- If you don't have milk, water will do.
- That will do, thank you.
- Any old bag will do as long as it's big enough.
Learner examples
- This chair will do for me.
- Water will do if we have no juice.
- That will do for today.
- Any pen will do for writing this note.
Verb
A2
action
6
Work on or study a subject/activity
To work at or study a subject or activity.
Usage pattern:
to do [a subject/activity]
Synonyms
study (Focuses on academic learning of a subject.)
Collocations
do history
|do yoga
Themes
education
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She's doing history at university.
- I do yoga twice a week.
- He is doing a course in computer science.
- They are doing research on renewable energy.
Learner examples
- I do math at school.
- She does yoga every day.
- We do English in class.
- He does science at university.
Grammar
Dictionary form
do
IPA
GB/dˈu/
US/dˈu/
Syllables & stress
do (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (do)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: do
- 3rd Person Singular: does
- Present Participle: doing
- Past: did
- Past Participle: done
Word family
Forms
does
verb
doing
verb
did
verb
done
verb
Core family
doable
adjective B2
doer
noun B2
Related words
redo
verb B1
overdo
verb B2
Negative and opposite forms
undo
verb B1
Advanced or less common
outdo
verb B2
Highlights
- Irregular past: did Verb
- Irregular past participle: done Verb
Expressions
do away with
1/dˈu əwˈeɪ wˈɪθ/
phrasal verb
Remove or get rid of something completely
To remove something so it no longer exists or is used.
Examples
- The school has done away with uniforms.
- We should do away with outdated rules.
do over
1/dˈu ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
Repeat task OR redecorate place
To repeat something because it wasn't good enough OR redecorate a place.
Examples
- I need to do my homework over because I made mistakes.
- They're doing over their living room.
do up
1/dˈu ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Fasten clothes/buttons OR renovate building/room
To fasten clothes/buttons OR repair and improve a building/room.
Examples
- Can you help me do up my dress?
- They're doing up their kitchen.
do without
1/dˈu wɪðˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Manage without something needed/wanted
To manage even if you don't have something you need or want.
Examples
- We can do without sugar in this recipe.
- I had to do without my phone for a week.
have to do with
1/hˈæv tə dˈu wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
Be connected with something/someone in some way
To be related to something/someone in some way.
Examples
- This has nothing to do with me.
- Her job has to do with marketing.