doing

noun

do·​ing ˈdü-iŋ How to pronounce doing (audio)
1
: the act of performing or executing : action
that will take a great deal of doing
2
doings plural
a
: things that are done or that occur : goings-on
everyday doings
b
: social activities

Examples of doing in a Sentence

It's the doing of the good deed that is important, not the thanks you receive. is that mess in the kitchen your doing?
Recent Examples on the Web The hollows may be the doing of volatiles, scientists theorize. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024 The older boys, Earl and Jermaine, tried to look out for him, and in Brooklyn’s 75th Precinct in the late 1980s, that took some doing. Joe Sexton, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024 Cultural Forensics of America’s Love Affair With KPIs Historically, the United States finds our pride in being human doings, rather than human beings. Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024 That was not the doing of technofeudalism, because technofeudalism came later. Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024 Owen is dashing with a cigarette and suit and the twisty plot which pulls in Cold War, religious doings, and espionage. Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 Much of this illusion resulted from Liszt’s sorcery in translating the score for the piano; the rest was Levit’s doing. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 The Klan and its ghoulish doings were greatly diminished, but the hate endured. Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023 That means the press had plenty of time to cover Hunter Biden’s doings, even if some wondered what his father was up to. Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of doing was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near doing

Cite this Entry

“Doing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doing. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

doing

noun
do·​ing ˈdü-iŋ How to pronounce doing (audio)
1
: the act of performing or carrying out : action
it will take some doing to beat us
2
plural
a
: things that are done or that occur
everyday doings
b
: social activities
big doings tonight

More from Merriam-Webster on doing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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