doing

noun

do·​ing ˈdü-iŋ How to pronounce doing (audio)
1
: the act of performing or executing : action
that will take a great deal of doing
2
doings plural
a
: things that are done or that occur : goings-on
everyday doings
b
: social activities

Examples of doing in a Sentence

It's the doing of the good deed that is important, not the thanks you receive. is that mess in the kitchen your doing?
Recent Examples on the Web Much of this illusion resulted from Liszt’s sorcery in translating the score for the piano; the rest was Levit’s doing. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 The Klan and its ghoulish doings were greatly diminished, but the hate endured. Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023 That means the press had plenty of time to cover Hunter Biden’s doings, even if some wondered what his father was up to. Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024 Zuiker, 54, has been much in the headlines for his real estate doings in recent years. James McClain, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024 Cooperman does a splendid job lacing these lines of inquiry through the essay while also suggesting that trying too hard to answer them risks missing the point of creating and experiencing beauty—which is to say, the doing and the feeling. Longreads, 1 Mar. 2024 Johnson’s go-to flavor of the drink is one of his own doing. Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 19 Feb. 2024 After surviving a poisoning widely seen as the Kremlin’s doing in 2020 and recovering in Germany, Mr. Navalny returned to Russia in 2021, and was immediately arrested. Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024 In an announcement on social media, Festa said many of the event's traditional doings — entertainment, an Italian Idol competition, the Cucina Showcase, a bocce tournament, Sunday Mass, Italian food and wine, and fireworks — will return. Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'doing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of doing was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near doing

Cite this Entry

“Doing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doing. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

doing

noun
do·​ing ˈdü-iŋ How to pronounce doing (audio)
1
: the act of performing or carrying out : action
it will take some doing to beat us
2
plural
a
: things that are done or that occur
everyday doings
b
: social activities
big doings tonight

More from Merriam-Webster on doing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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