to-do

American  

[tuh-doo] / təˈdu /

noun

Informal.

plural

to-dos

1. bustle; fuss.

   They made a great to-do over the dinner.

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to-do British  

/ təˈduː /

noun

1. a commotion, fuss, or quarrel

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Related Words

See ado.

Etymology

Origin of to-do

before 900; Middle English, Old English; noun use of infinitive phrase; see to, do ¹, ado

Example Sentences

On Spero’s social media to-do list: a “slop hunter of the week leaderboard.”

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026

There are some non-vacation-related items for your to-do list, as well: create power-of-attorney documents while your husband is of sound mind and has the legal capacity to sign off on them.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

“I’m at a place,” he said, “where it’s just like, how high does this go on my to-do list?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

She wore a yellow knit beanie, gold hoop earrings and the relieved grin of a woman who has finally checked a mammogram off her to-do list.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Relief that Stella gets to wake up a few hours from now and have at least five more wonderful years, filled with whatever her to-do list has on it.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott