deed

noun \ ˈdēd \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Examples: deed in a Sentence

Definition of deed

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 ¹instrument 4) containing some legal transfer, bargain, or contract

gave them the deed to the house

—

deedless

play \-ləs\ adjective

See deed defined for English-language learners

See deed defined for kids

Examples of deed in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of deed from the Web

Those plans will include ideas on how best to protect that property, whether through acquisition, or a restricted covenant on the deed or a conservation easement, for example.

— emily hopkins, Indianapolis Star, "A lack of trees might hurt Indianapolis’ growth. Here’s why.," 4 June 2018
In theory, that means someone could walk away with the deed for pennies on the dollar.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "Peek inside opulent Lake Oswego homes priced at $3 million or more (photos)," 30 May 2018
Finally, Segal came on stage, signed the deed of gift, and sat down with museum curator Katherine Ott, who kept the crowd laughing.

— adam cohen, Smithsonian, "Mark Segal, LGBTQ Iconoclast, Activist and Disruptor, Donates Lifetime of Papers and Artifacts," 25 May 2018
Seven years later, in June 2014, commissioners were finally able to sign over the deed to Ivers.

— jess cohen, Post-Tribune, "Knox County looks to save poor farm site dating to 1880s," 18 May 2018
In 2016, after a city councilwoman criticized Hartford’s police, Foley launched a social media campaign aimed at highlighting the good deeds that officers had done in the community.

— jenna carlesso, Courant Community, "Hartford Deputy Chief, Face Of City Police, Will Retire," 16 May 2018
According to the New York Post, Frieda claims that in 2005 her son had her sign papers relating to the deed.

— stephen a. crockett jr., The Root, "Happy Mother’s Day: Chris Bosh’s Mom Sues the Former NBA Player for Cutting Her Off," 11 May 2018
That was before the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Libraries stepped in and officially took title to the deed earlier this year to preserve the property -- and the existing parking -- around its Coventry branch.

— thomas jewell, cleveland.com, "Coventry PEACE Campus hosts Community Celebration on Saturday," 9 May 2018
When Hasan and his attorneys returned to the property with a copy of the deed later that month, Ziyad met them — joined by Luster and Derrick Muhammad, the mayor’s brother — to contest his right to the parcel.

— zak koeske, Daily Southtown, "Blighted property allegedly seized by Harvey had been part of FBI probe of mayoral consultant, records show," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of deed

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

deed Synonyms

Synonyms

act, action, doing, exploit, feat, thing;

adventure, experience;

emprise, enterprise, initiative, undertaking;

handiwork, performance, work;

stunt, trick;

activity, dealing;

maneuver, measure, move, operation, procedure, proceeding, step, tactic;

coaction;

deed

verb

Definition of deed

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 ¹deed 4)

deeded the house to her son

See deed defined for English-language learners

Examples of deed in a Sentence

She deeded the house to her children.
the philanthropist unexpectedly deeded his entire fortune to the animal shelter

Recent Examples of deed from the Web

The same year of the Navajo’s treaty, for example, Sioux tribes entered into one that deeded land, including the Black Hills, to the Lakota.

— Washington Post, "Navajos commemorate anniversary of 1868 treaty," 1 June 2018
When the DuPage County seat was moved to Wheaton in 1868, the county deeded the park’s 3.8 acres to Naperville for public use.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Laughing Lincoln statue would be Naperville Century Walk's birthday gift to Illinois," 24 Apr. 2018
Morrison built the park at his own expense, then deeded it to the city in 1959.

— dana oland, idahostatesman, "Boise parks guide: What's new, what's coming, where to picnic | Idaho Statesman," 21 May 2018
Well, because of freaking castles!!! Turns out the elder prince wanted the castles that had been deeded to his son back.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "A Brief History of Royal Wedding Scandals," 16 May 2018
The property was originally deeded over to the Park District through the Jack Pfund estate.

— linda girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, "Oswego Township officials recommend expanding Pearce Cemetery," 9 May 2018
Lincoln’s hand will be on a deed, meant to symbolize the act of the county deeding the park’s 3.8 acres to Naperville for public use when the county seat moved to Wheaton in 1868.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Design for a Laughing Lincoln statue in Naperville's Central Park approved," 2 May 2018
Instead of a lengthy court process that typifies demolitions of nuisance properties, the house's former owner - a then-80-year-old woman - agreed to move and deed the property to the MLK Redevelopment Corporation.

— john sharp, AL.com, "In Mobile, 'hope' comes to property once known for drug dealing," 30 Apr. 2018
The land had been deeded to the Benavides family as part of a Spanish land grant in 1767.

— molly hennessy-fiske, latimes.com, "The great test for Trump's border wall: Texas' Rio Grande Valley," 30 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of deed

see ¹deed

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1758

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

deed Synonyms

Synonyms

alienate, assign, cede, convey, make over, transfer;

Near Antonyms

expropriate;

bestow, commend, commit, confer, contribute, deliver, donate, grant, hand over, move, pass, present, release, relinquish, surrender, transmit, turn in, turn over, vest, yield;

consign, entrust (also intrust), trust;

lease, lend, loan, rent;

Phrases

dispose of;

Financial Definition of DEED

deed

noun

What It Is

A deed is an ownership document that entitles its holder to specific rights to a property based on a set of explicit conditions.

How It Works

In most cases, a deed establishes proper ownership of a piece of property such as a home or automobile. The deed grants the holder explicit privileges and rights that may only be exercised under duly expressed conditions. In this respect, a deed's conferment of unique rights or privileges brings with it a unique set of responsibilities.

An example would be a deed of ownership to a home. While the freedom inherent in the deed allows the holder to take many actions regarding the home, he is bound by the conditions of home ownership. For instance, though he may build a balcony on the back of his house, he may not be able to install a high-power speaker system as it could disturb the neighbors.

Why It Matters

A deed sets specific privileges and rights that the holder alone may exercise and it sets rules that render the holder responsible for the consequences of exercising those rights.

Source: Investing Answers

DEED Defined for English Language Learners

deed

noun

Definition of deed for English Language Learners

: something that is done : an act or action
: a legal document that shows who owns a building or piece of land

deed

verb

Definition of deed for English Language Learners

: to give someone ownership of (a building or piece of land) by means of a deed

DEED Defined for Kids

deed

noun \ ˈdēd \

Definition of deed for Students

1 : something that is done : act

a brave deed

2 : a legal document by which a person transfers land or buildings to another

deed

verb

Definition of deed for Students

deeded; deeding

: to transfer by a deed

He deeded the house to the new owners.

Law Dictionary

deed

noun

legal Definition of deed

1 : something done : act 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

1 : 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

2 : 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 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

2 : special warranty deed in this entry — compare warranty deed in this entry

— sheriffʼs 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