deed

1 of 2

noun

1
: something that is done
evil deeds
did my good deed for the day
2
: a usually illustrious act or action : feat, exploit
a hero's daring deeds
3
: the act of performing : action
righteous in word and in deed
4
: a signed and usually sealed instrument (see instrument entry 1 sense 5) containing some legal transfer, bargain, or contract
gave them the deed to the house
deedless adjective

deed

2 of 2

verb

deeded; deeding; deeds

transitive verb

law
: to convey or transfer by a signed instrument containing a legal transfer, bargain, or contract : to convey or transfer by deed (see deed entry 1 sense 4)
deeded the house to her son

Examples of deed in a Sentence

Noun They taught their children to be kind and to do good deeds. News of their heroic deeds spread far and wide. It's too late now. The deed is done. The land was transferred by deed. He gave them the deed to the property. Verb She deeded the house to her children. the philanthropist unexpectedly deeded his entire fortune to the animal shelter
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Proof of your responsibility to pay property taxes on your home, such as the deed to your home with your name on it. Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024 This toy is also anal-friendly, but make sure to pair it with lube before doing the deed. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Mar. 2024 For example, if a trust owns a house, the deed may be a key document. Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 Records show that almost the entire Kelce family is on the deed, with the matriarch listed first and Travis and Jason as remaindermen. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 17 Feb. 2024 In 2020, Page expanded to the South Pacific, purchasing a majority share in the deed for the island of Tavarua in Fiji. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2024 After the addition of roughly one new restricted deed each year for the last two decades, the island now has five pending, said Mary Bergman, director of the Nantucket Preservation Trust, which manages the deed restriction program. Jenna Russell Matt Cosby, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024 The Unification Church sued Barreto in 2019 over the deed claim, including his representations on LinkedIn as the building's owner. CBS News, 15 Feb. 2024 No green deed goes unpunished, however, and Salton Sea is proof of America’s nasty habit of getting in its own way. Alina Clough, National Review, 1 Feb. 2024
Verb
The Royals announced on Feb. 13 the organization’s selection of the East Crossroads site and the team’s plan to buy all six blocks and deed to the county the land that would be needed for the stadium. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2024 The administration, though, has spent weeks conveying in word and deed its reluctance to increase the costs of Iranian aggression beyond the many benefits Tehran has accrued as a result of its monthslong campaign of terrorism. The Editors, National Review, 5 Feb. 2024 But that hearing was different from those that came before, because a collection of local Republicans and Democrats had banded together, wearing green and urging the county not to deed away the land under the monument. Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023 Early on, Peg announces her plans to deed the prairie to a wildlife conservation group and home to Ryan after her death, but then a few farm tools and an old rifle are stolen from her shed. In Swing State, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2023 In the Windfall agreement, the city would pay about $6.6 million in construction costs, which would not be needed until May 2023, as well as deed the 3.3-acre site to Windfall, a value of about $2 million. Steve Lord, chicagotribune.com, 2 Feb. 2022 For instance, the report notes that deed restrictions on affordable homeownership units often limit how much the property can be resold for, as a way to stretch public funding and keep communities affordable. Tiana Woodard, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2023 He’s watched many bad movies and really likes action flicks and the hero that’s over-the-top, braggadocious, and talks about his war deeds with no qualms. Vulture, 30 Aug. 2023 In the 1930s, banks wouldn’t lend money to Tenth Street homeowners or buyers because of redlining policies and homes fell into disrepair as homeowners died without will or deed records. Sonia Rao, Dallas News, 17 June 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English dede, from Old English dǣd; akin to Old English dōn to do

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1758, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deed was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near deed

Cite this Entry

“Deed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deed. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deed

1 of 2 noun
1
: something that is done : act
we are judged by our deeds
2
: a legal document by which one person transfers land or buildings to another

deed

2 of 2 verb
: to transfer by deed

Legal Definition

deed

1 of 2 noun
1
: something done : act sense 1
my free act and deed
2
: a written instrument by which a person transfers ownership of real property to another see also deliver, grantee, grantor, recording act, registry, title compare certificate of title

Note: A deed must be properly executed and delivered in order to be effective. Additionally, the grantor must have freely intended to make the transfer at the time of the conveyance. Deeds are recorded at the local registry of deeds to give notice of ownership.

bargain and sale deed
: a contract resulting from a bargain between a buyer and a seller of real property that creates a use in the buyer and therefore transfers title to the buyer by operation of law
: a deed in which the grantor makes no warranties of title to the grantee
deed-in-lieu \ -​in-​ˈlü \
: deed in lieu of foreclosure in this entry
deed in lieu of foreclosure
: a deed from a mortgagor conveying title to the mortgaged property to the mortgagee in payment of the debt

Note: Deeds in lieu of foreclosure are sometimes used as an alternative to foreclosure.

deed of trust
: an instrument securing a debt in which a debtor conveys the legal ownership of real property to a trustee to be held in trust for the benefit of the creditor or to be sold upon the debtor's default to pay the debt : a mortgage with a power of sale

called also trust deed

master deed
: a deed that submits the land described therein to the provisions of a state's law regarding condominiums and sets out various information (as about the units, common areas, bylaws, and rights of the owners) as required under state law compare declaration of condominium at declaration sense 4
quitclaim deed
: a deed that grants only whatever title or interest the grantor had to the property without any warranty as to the title
: special warranty deed in this entry compare warranty deed in this entry
sheriff's deed
: a deed given to a buyer of property purchased at a sheriff's sale
special warranty deed
: a deed in which the property transferred is warranted to be free of all liens or encumbrances made by, through, or under the grantor but not otherwise
tax deed
: a deed evidencing the transfer of title acquired by the grantee as purchaser of property at a tax sale compare tax certificate
trust deed
: deed of trust in this entry
unit deed
: a deed conveying a condominium unit
warranty deed
: a deed warranting that the grantor has a good title free and clear of all encumbrances and will defend the grantee against all claims compare quitclaim deed and special warranty deed in this entry

deed

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to convey by deed

More from Merriam-Webster on deed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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