do | TKG English Learner's Dictionary

doverb

American /du/ British /duː/ Before a main verb, the helper do is often weak and sounds like duh, and does sounds like duhz. The strong forms return for emphasis, as in I DO like it. The past form did is dihd.

third-person singular does past tense did past participle done present participle doing

very commondefining vocabulary

Do is used to carry out an action, to stand in for a verb already mentioned, and, as a helper, to form questions and negatives and to add force to a verb.

performcarry out an action, a task, or a piece of work
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]
- Have you done your homework yet? V + obj
- She did a great job on the report. V + obj
- What are you doing this weekend? V + obj
- There is nothing to do here.
Collocations
verb + noun do the work, do a job, do your best, do exercises, do business, do someone a favor
Synonyms perform (perform is more formal); carry out
Compare make (do is used for actions and tasks, make for creating or producing something)
1. aperform a task or job, especially a regular one such as the dishes or the shopping
  Used with the and the name of a chore or activity: do the dishes, do the laundry, do the shopping, do your hair.
  transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]
  - It's your turn to do the dishes. V + obj
  - I need to do the shopping before the stores close. V + obj
  - Lee did his hair before the party. V + obj
  Collocations
  verb + noun do the dishes, do the laundry, do the shopping, do the cooking
be enoughbe enough or right for a purpose
Often with will or won't: this will do means this is enough or acceptable; that won't do means it is not good enough.
intransitive [I]
- We don't need much; this box will do.
- Any color will do, as long as it's bright.
- A short note will do; you don't need to write a letter.
Synonyms suffice (suffice is formal)
manage or progressmake progress or manage in a particular way
Usually with an adverb such as well or badly. It asks or says how successful someone or something is: how are you doing, the business is doing well.
intransitive [I]
- How are you doing these days?
- Yuki is doing well at school.
- The new shop is doing badly.
- How did you do on the test?
in place of a verbused in place of a verb already mentioned, so that it need not be repeated
The pro-verb do. It stands for a whole verb phrase to avoid saying it again: she runs faster than I do (than I run). It is common after than, as, and so, and in short answers.
- She runs faster than I do.
- He likes jazz, and so do I.
- They finished the work before we did.
questions and negativesused with the base form of another verb to make questions and negative sentences in the simple present and simple past
This is the auxiliary do. Ordinary verbs need it to form questions and negatives: do you know, she doesn't like it, did they go, we didn't wait. After does and did, the main verb stays in its base form: does she like, not does she likes.
- Do you know the way to the station?
- She doesn't like coffee.
- Did you see the letter?
- We didn't have enough time.
for emphasisused with the base form of another verb to make a statement or a request stronger
Stressed do adds force: I do like it (really), do sit down (please). It is also used to contradict: you didn't call. I did call! In writing, the word carries the emphasis without a special mark.
- I do like your new haircut! (emphasis)
- Do come in and sit down. (polite request)
- You said I forgot, but I did lock the door! (contradiction)

Phrases

that will do

used to tell someone to stop, because they have done or said enough

Said firmly, often to a child or to stop bad behavior.

That will do, children! Time to be quiet.
That will do, thank you. We don't need any more.

could do with something informal

need or want something

An informal, indirect way to say that you need or would like something.

I could do with a cup of tea.
This room could do with a coat of paint.

how do you do formal old-fashioned

used as a formal greeting when you meet someone for the first time

A set greeting, not a real question. The usual reply is How do you do in return.

How do you do? I'm pleased to meet you.

Word family

doer
overdo
redo
undo

Choosing between do · make

Do is used for actions, tasks, and work in general, and for an activity that is not named exactly: do the dishes, do your homework, do something. Make is used when you create or produce a thing or a result: make a cake, make a plan, make a mistake. Learners meet this choice often, so it is worth learning common pairs by heart.

Usage

Do is also the helper for short answers, question tags, and agreement: Do you like it? Yes, I do. You know Sam, don't you? So do I. When do is both helper and main verb, it appears twice: What do you do? (meaning what is your job).

Common mistakes

I must make my homework. I must do my homework.
Use do for tasks and work; make is for creating or producing something.

I no like it. I don't like it.
Negatives of ordinary verbs in the present and past need the helper do.

Does she likes coffee? Does she like coffee?
After does or did, the main verb stays in its base form.

For translators

Meaning across languages English uses do both for performing an action and as an empty helper in questions and negatives. Many languages have no such helper and form questions by word order or a small particle, so auxiliary do has no direct translation.

Grammar trap In the simple present and past, ordinary verbs form questions and negatives with do, does, or did plus the base form: does she like it, they did not go. The main verb do can take this helper too: what do you do.

do