What does "deed" mean?
An action or act; something that is done.
Deed
/diːd/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An action or act; something that is done.
- Grammar: deed is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: act, action, title, abalienate.
- Useful contrasts: inaction, omission, oral contract.
- Usage evidence: Shocked by the events of September 11th, politicians all over the world condemned the terrorists for their reprehensible deed.
How to use "deed"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "deed" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "deed" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "deed" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "deed" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "deed" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "act" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "deed", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An action or act; something that is done.
"One small deed can have one stour effect or more."
- 2 something that people do or cause to happen wordnet
- 3 A brave or noteworthy action; a feat or exploit.
"They should accomplish both a knightly deed,"
- 4 a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it wordnet
- 5 Action or fact, as opposed to rhetoric or deliberation.
"I have fulfilled my promise in word and in deed."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A legal instrument that is executed under seal or before a witness; sometimes required for certain legal activities, such as the transfer of certain kinds of property.
- 7 A legal instrument that is executed under seal or before a witness; sometimes required for certain legal activities, such as the transfer of certain kinds of property.; The legal title to real estate; ownership. broadly
"I inherited the deed to the house."
Verb
- 1 To transfer real property by deed. informal
"He deeded over the mineral rights to some fellas from Denver."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Shocked by the events of September 11th, politicians all over the world condemned the terrorists for their reprehensible deed."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "deed"?
Common synonyms include: act, action, title, abalienate, accomplished fact, accomplishment.
How do you use "deed" in a sentence?
Shocked by the events of September 11th, politicians all over the world condemned the terrorists for their reprehensible deed.
How do you pronounce "deed"?
Pronounced /diːd/.
Etymology
From Middle English dede, from Old English dēd, dǣd (“deed, act”), from Proto-West Germanic *dādi, from Proto-Germanic *dēdiz (“deed”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰéh₁tis (“deed, action”). Analyzable through Proto-Germanic as do + -th. Doublet of thesis. The real estate sense derives from the fact that property deeds are traditionally used to demonstrate proof of ownership of a legal title in common law jurisdictions, such as England & Wales and most of the United States. Cognates Cognate with West Frisian died, Dutch daad (“deed, act”), German Low German Daad, German Tat (“deed, action”), Swedish, Norwegian and Danish dåd (“act, action”). The Proto-Indo-European root is also the source of Ancient Greek θέσις (thésis, “setting, arrangement”).