to-do
Americannoun
-
to-dos
plural
noun
Synonym Usage
See ado.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of to-do
before 900; Middle English, Old English; noun use of infinitive phrase; see to, do 1, ado
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I understand, but I also appreciate tools that can help tick things off my endless to-do list.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
“He hates going to the dentist” or the doctor, she explained, so “I just put it on my to-do list” to make his appointment.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
With eight games left in the regular season, the Dodgers have already ticked off the most important boxes on their postseason to-do list.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
There's a bravery award in her name on the wall, and a peek in her diary reveals a series of appointments, meetings and to-do lists.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Bridge saw her mom mentally checking this task off of her to-do list.
From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead
Jumping straight into a list of major to-dos would leave little time for ideas to germinate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026
There are certain to-dos to check off your list when moving to any new city: collect free boxes, book a moving van, change your address at the post office.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 4, 2023
“So meta. And it was just as addictive as a romance. I ignored so many to-dos whilst listening. Luckily, it only took me two days to finish!”
From Washington Post ● Dec. 10, 2022
Image: Apple I use two apps to keep track of my to-dos: Apple’s Reminders app for personal tasks and TickTick for work tasks.
From The Verge ● Aug. 3, 2022
When they had big to-dos old master sent mama over there.
From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Arkansas Narratives, Part 5 by Work Projects Administration
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
