to do

1 of 2

phrase

: necessary to be done
I've done my best and all's to do again.A. E. Housman

to-do

2 of 2

noun

plural to-dos tə-ˈdüz How to pronounce to-do (audio)

Examples of to do in a Sentence

Noun there was such a to-do when the mice got loose from the science room that I thought the principal was going to close the school

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1576, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of to do was circa 1576

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“To do.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to%20do. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

to-do

noun
tə-ˈdü
plural to-dos
-ˈdüz

More from Merriam-Webster on to do

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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