deed

noun \ ˈdēd \

Updated on: 13 Oct 2017

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

Nope: The sisters were actually teaming up to take down Littlefinger, the architect of many of the show’s mostly dastardly deeds, and to finally make good on that ‘

— anna silman, The Cut, "On Game of Thrones, Sisters Finally Did It for Themselves," 28 Aug. 2017
The free world’s appeasement of the evil deeds of the Chinese regime will adversely affect global democratization, which is exactly what Liu Xiaobo warned against ten years ago.

— jianli yang, National Review, "Liu Xiaobo’s Stern Warning," 15 Aug. 2017
The Chiefs are walking a delicate and blurry line, of course, seeking to render aid to someone who needs it only because of his own indefensible deeds.

— vahe gregorian, kansascity, "Michael Vick’s past remains appalling but shouldn’t disqualify him from coaching," 26 July 2017
If she hasn’t seen him since then, but seems to understand the significance of this phrase, what dark deeds have been cooking on the back burner all these years?

— vanityfair.com, "Twin Peaks: 10 Easter Eggs, References, and Callbacks You Might Have Missed in Part 9," 10 July 2017
City officials seem to have anticipated that someone might want to alter the old library in the future, and incorporated a clause in the deed that states the building's facade and vestibule must be preserved by future owners.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Nichols Library developer given 30 more days in landmark request," 8 July 2017
Such a show of deeds was enacted yesterday, as South Korea and the U.S. fired a barrage of missiles off the Korean peninsula.

— isobel thompson, The Hive, "Trump Is About to Face the First Great Test of His Presidency," 5 July 2017
Retiring in 1982, Palmore represented the coal industry in an unsuccessful challenge to a constitutional amendment that had thrown out the broad form deed.

— andrew wolfson, The Courier-Journal, "John S. Palmore, former Ky. chief justice and legal icon, dies at 99," 4 July 2017
Sometimes he was paid with deeds to land parcels instead of cash.

— dorothy jenkins fields, miamiherald, "Miami pioneer’s descendants return to South Florida for biennial family reunion," 28 June 2017

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

See Words from the same year

deed Synonyms

Synonyms

feat, exploit, number, stunt, tour de force, trick

Related Words

accomplishment, achievement, attainment, coup, success, triumph; adventure; performance

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

Woodward, now 93, sold the cabin to the National Park Service Conservation Fund in 2006, which then deeded it to the National Park Service.

— mike campbell, Alaska Dispatch News, "Lake Clark National Park’s only public-use cabin is a gem," 24 Aug. 2017
The state's position is that all historical deeds are basically correct, and that the only error in the title history came in 2008, when the bankruptcy trustee deeded the property to Row Boat.

— bruce vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Who owns Upper Spring Lake? After investors built $1 million dam, state lays claims," 24 July 2017
The village site and burial grounds extend far beyond the limits of the property deeded to the tribe.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Land transfer brings closure to Lummi tribe 20 years after ancestors’ remains disturbed," 30 June 2017
Before his death, Bessinger deeded a tiny portion of land in front of the restaurant to Rivers Bridge Camp #842 Sons of the Confederate Veterans, reports the Times and Democrat.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "SC ice cream shop owner under siege for rebel flag on disputed plot of land," 27 June 2017
The building was torn down in 2015, and the city of Aurora deeded the land over to the park district.

— linda girardi, chicagotribune.com, "Hill Elementary bricks offered as way to save piece of historic school," 21 June 2017
Paul Magness, deputy director of the Department of Parks & Recreation, and Angela Hoover, the project manager, presented plans for the nearly 70-acre passive nature park on property deeded to the county by the Estate of Emily Bayless Graham in 2015.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Public gets first look at plans for Harford County's Emily Bayless Graham Park," 14 June 2017
After the building was torn down in 2015, the city of Aurora deeded the land over to the Park District.

— Aurora Beacon-News, "Work to start on Blackhawk Park in Aurora," 13 June 2017
Last year, Willis and Moore deeded the theater to the company, Simone stepped away and relocated to Boise and Glenn took over sole artistic direction.

— dana oland, idahostatesman, "Hailey’s Company of Fools artistic director dies at 55," 13 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of deed

see ¹deed

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1758

See Words from the same year

deed Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

bequeath, hand down, leave, pass (down), will; 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, let [chiefly British], loan, rent

Near Antonyms

expropriate

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