ado

noun

ə-ˈdü 

1

: heightened fuss or concern : to-do

much ado about the need for reform

2

: time-wasting bother over trivial details

wrote the paper without further ado

3

: trouble, difficulty

The journey itself is not described; our heroes disembark without ado at Philadelphia.

—Anthony Lane

Synonyms of ado

• commotion
• fuss
• hurry
• stir
• disturbance
• turmoil

Examples of ado in a Sentence

a bride-to-be caught up in the usual prenuptial ado

Recent Examples on the Web

Apart from the loss of a notable research institution, most of these end-of-year headlines are much ado about nothing. —Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025

So, without further ado, here is the definitive list of all the Arizona cities named the best place to live in 2025. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 18 Dec. 2025

Without further ado, our most popular appetizer of 2025 is Cheese Dreams. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2025

Republicans are hoping Behn's late surge is much ado about nothing, and that their base will reliably turn out now that the president has tuned in. —Leonardo Feldman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, reduced from the infinitive phrase at do, from at "to, at entry 1" + do, don "to do entry 1"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ado

• without further ado

Rhymes for ado

• accrue
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou
• breakthrough

Kids Definition

ado

noun

ə-ˈdü 

: fuss entry 1 sense 1, trouble

much ado about nothing