done

American  

[duhn] / dʌn /

verb

1. past participle of do.

2. Nonstandard. a simple past tense of do.

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auxiliary verb

1. Nonstandard: South Midland and Southern U.S. (used with a principal verb in the past or, sometimes, present tense to indicate completed action).

   I done told you so. He done eat his lunch.

adjective

1. completed; finished; through.

   Our work is done.

2. cooked sufficiently.

3. worn out; exhausted; used up.

4. in conformity with fashion, good taste, or propriety; acceptable.

   It isn't done.

idioms

1. be / have done with, to break off relations or connections with; stop.

2. done for,

   1. tired; exhausted.

   2. deprived of one's means, position, etc.

   3. dead or close to death.

3. done in, very tired; exhausted.

   He was really done in after a close race.

done British  

/ dʌn /

verb

1. the past participle of do 1

2. to end relations with

3. to be completely finished

   have you done?

4. 1. an exclamation of frustration when something is ruined

   2. an exclamation when something is completed

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interjection

1. an expression of agreement, as on the settlement of a bargain between two parties

adjective

1. completed; finished

2. cooked enough

   done to a turn

3. used up

   they had to surrender when the ammunition was done

4. socially proper or acceptable

   that isn't done in higher circles

5. informal cheated; tricked

6. informal

   1. dead or almost dead

   2. in serious difficulty

7. informal physically exhausted

done More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing done

• do
• easier said than done
• good as done
• have done (with)
• no sooner said (than done)
• not done
• over and done with
• seen one, seen them all (been there, done that)
• what's done is done
• when all's said and done

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Usage

In the adjectival sense “completed, finished, through,” done dates from the 14th century and is entirely standard: Is your portrait done yet?

Other Word Forms

• half-done
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of done

First recorded before 900, for the adjective

Explanation

Something that's done is finished, through, or over — it's no longer happening. If your final research paper is done, you've completed it. You might announce at your high school graduation that you're done with school, or listen to your sister practicing the drums and hope she'll be done before bedtime. When food is described as done it means "ready to eat" or "thoroughly cooked." Many Thanksgiving feasts have to wait until the turkey is done. If you're "done for" in a video game, you're just about to die — your fate is sealed.

Example Sentences

If Salah's intention was to rattle cages, it has certainly done that.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

He has not paid the last two months, and it is not court-ordered; it has been an agreement between us that he pays monthly, and he has done fine up until recently.

From MarketWatch • May 16, 2026

"In my opinion, Høybråten is the politician who has done the most for public health in Norway since the Second World War," said Wisløff.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2026

“But taking the responsibility to be the ones to carry the team and come through in big moments, these two have done it together.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026

I’d done my homework here as a schoolchild.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom