deed

[ deed ]

noun

1. something that is done, performed, or accomplished; an act:

   Do a good deed every day.

2. an exploit or achievement; feat:

   brave deeds.

3. Often deeds. an act or gesture, especially as illustrative of intentions, one's character, or the like:

   Her deeds speak for themselves.

4. Law. a writing or document executed under seal and delivered to effect a conveyance, especially of real estate.

verb (used with object)

1. to convey or transfer by deed.

deed

/ diːd /

noun

1. something that is done or performed; act
2. a notable achievement; feat; exploit
3. action or performance, as opposed to words
4. law a formal legal document signed, witnessed, and delivered to effect a conveyance or transfer of property or to create a legal obligation or contract

verb

1. tr to convey or transfer (property) by deed

Other Words From

• deedless adjective
• re·deed verb (used with object)
• un·deeded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deed¹

before 900; Middle English dede, Old English dēd, variant of dǣd; cognate with German Tat, Gothic gadēths; do ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of deed¹

Old English dēd; related to Old High German tāt, Gothic gadeths; see do ¹

Synonym Study

See action.

Example Sentences

Because it takes these murderous thieves who did terrible things — like locking women and children in a burning church — and makes them a symbol of freedom and adventure, erasing their wicked deeds from historical memory.

From Washington Post

Beyond the money, though, Currey is grateful that his good deed propelled someone else to do good, too.

From Washington Post

Their explanation of why someone like Danson would obscure his good deed “is based on the intuition that making a positive signal harder to spot can serve as a signal in itself,” they write.

From Nautilus

Water rights were bought and sold through private contracts and government deeds, and public agencies doled out most of the coveted commodity.

From Quartz

Miss Manners lives in hope that people will learn to care enough about their reputations to curb their offensive words and deeds.

From Washington Post

Over the course of the year, Klaus would repeatedly, through word and deed, demonstrate his sympathies with Putin.

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps more telling, state media called the attack on the studio “a righteous deed.”

From The Daily Beast

Then stab her to death and bring me back her lungs and liver as proof of your deed.

From The Daily Beast

But, alas, Philadelphia received the honor and President Gerald Ford did the deed.

From The Daily Beast

The endgame for Hamas, avowedly in both word and deed, is Jewish genocide.

From The Daily Beast

Is it true that whenever we are about to do an ill or unjust deed a shadow of the fruits it will bring comes over us as a warning?

From Project Gutenberg

She pressed her hands tighter upon her bosom; her eyes sparkled with an odd approval of that brisk deed.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not likely that the inhabitants of Ivrea, who thus commemorate her heroic deed, will ever forget their Mugnaia.

From Project Gutenberg

Poor wretches—they were afraid to refuse, yet their gorge rose at the deed, and they fired at the ceiling!

From Project Gutenberg

We soon found opportunity for another deed of charity not dissimilar to this, though its result was more auspicious.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accomplishment
• act
• action
• adventure
• fact
• feat
• reality
• truth