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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When McCartney arrives on stage – by which point the audience has already experienced some pretty nasty doings – his young Henry a shy, nerdy but somehow vaguely threatening high school kid. Greg Evans, Deadline, 12 May 2025 What these companies understand—perhaps better than many Silicon Valley disruptors—is that the most powerful learning doesn't come from passive watching but from active doing. Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 And yet, despite the parents’ efforts, and despite all the beings and doings that occur as the children grow, some among them die before their time. Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025 Despite the big doings at the Garden, Ion’s opening slate is formidable, as the network tips off its season with the Minnesota Lynx and Dallas Wings in the 7:30 p.m. ET window, followed by the franchise premiere of the Golden State Valkyries in the late slot. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for doing

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doing. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

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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