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• how do you do
  how do you do

  interjection

  (used as a conventional greeting.)
• how-do-you-do
  how-do-you-do

  noun

  a greeting; salutation.
• how do you do?
  how do you do?

  A conventional greeting used mostly after being introduced to someone, as in And this is our youngest—say “How do you do” to Mr. Smith. Although it is a question, it requires no reply. Originally, in the 1600s, this expression was an inquiry after a person's health or standing, how do you do meaning “how do you fare?” Today we usually express this as How are you? or How are you doing? or How goes it? or How's it going? Even more general are the slangy locutions How are things? or How's tricks? All of these greetings date from the first half of the 1900s.

how do you do

¹ American  

interjection

1. (used as a conventional greeting.)

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how-do-you-do ² American  

[hou-duh-yuh-doo] / ˈhaʊ də yəˈdu /

Also how-de-do

noun

Informal.

how-do-you-dos plural

1. a greeting; salutation.

   She smiled and gave him a how-do-you-do fit for a king.

2. an awkward or unpleasant event or situation.

   It's a fine how-do-you-do that they've refused to help us out.

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how do you do British  

1. Also: how do?.   how d'ye do?.  a formal greeting said by people who are being introduced to each other or are meeting for the first time

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noun

1. informal a difficult situation

how do you do? Idioms  

1. A conventional greeting used mostly after being introduced to someone, as in And this is our youngest—say “How do you do” to Mr. Smith. Although it is a question, it requires no reply. Originally, in the 1600s, this expression was an inquiry after a person's health or standing, how do you do meaning “how do you fare?” Today we usually express this as How are you? or How are you doing? or How goes it? or How's it going? Even more general are the slangy locutions How are things? or How's tricks? All of these greetings date from the first half of the 1900s.

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Etymology

Origin of how-do-you-do

First recorded in 1625–35

Example Sentences

“We were doing it because everybody loves it. So how do you do a show that’s beloved with someone that doesn’t love it?”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

And I said, "Okay, how do you do that?"

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2024

"I've been down to my local bar with these old boys saying 'see that skateboarding on the TV, how do you do that?'" he said.

From BBC • May 29, 2024

"And how do you do that? You exercise and follow a healthy diet."

From Science Daily • May 16, 2024

“Oh, Robert! how do you do? I remember you very well: you used to give me a ride sometimes on Miss Georgiana’s bay pony. And how is Bessie? You are married to Bessie?”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• hello
• nod
• ovation
• reception
• salute