does
does
Pronunciation
/dʌz/.
/d/ - As in "dog"
/ʌ/ - As in "cup" or "strut"
/z/ - As in "zoo" or "buzz"
Word Form Variations
Base form/Infinitive: do (e.g., "I do my homework," "They do their best.")
Third-person singular present tense: does (e.g., "He does his chores," "She does yoga.")
Past tense: did (e.g., "We did the laundry," "They did their research.")
Past participle: done (e.g., "I have done my part," "It was done quickly.")
Present participle/Gerund:doing (e.g., "She is doing well," "Doing exercise is good for you.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: The third-person singular present tense form of the verb "to do," used to indicate an action, an occurrence, or the performance of a task. It is often used as an auxiliary verb to form questions or negatives.
Examples:
"She does her best work in the mornings." (action)
"He does not like spinach." (negative auxiliary)
"Does it matter?" (question auxiliary)
Synonyms (of "do" in general, as "does" is a specific conjugation): perform, execute, accomplish, complete, achieve, carry out, undertake, effectuate, bring about, create, produce.
Antonyms (of "do" in general, as "does" is a specific conjugation): neglect, cease, fail, avoid, stop, undo, omit.
Definition 2: (Informal) To be sufficient or adequate for a particular purpose.
Examples:
"This small amount of food does for me."
"Will this old hammer does for the job?"
Synonyms: suffices, serves, meets, fits, works, answers (the purpose).
Antonyms: fails, lacks, falls short, insufficient, inadequate.
Noun
Definition 1: The plural form of "doe," referring to female deer, hares, or other female animals (e.g., kangaroos, reindeer).
Examples:
"A herd of does grazed peacefully in the meadow."
"The hunter spotted two does near the river."
Synonyms: female deer, female hare (depending on the animal context).
Antonyms: bucks (male deer), stags (male deer), rams (male sheep), boars (male pigs), bulls (male cattle).
Definition 2: (Slang, often derogatory) A foolish, naive, or contemptible person. (This usage is less common and should be used with caution due to its potentially offensive nature.)
Examples:
"Don't be such a does and fall for that trick again."
Synonyms: idiot, fool, imbecile, dolt, simpleton, nincompoop.
Antonyms: genius, mastermind, intellect, sage, astute person.
Examples of Use
Books:
"What does it mean to be a good person? That's the question I've wrestled with my whole life." (From The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, August 2020)
"But he does not listen, or if he does, he gives no sign." (From Circe by Madeline Miller, April 2018)
Newspapers:
"The central bank does not foresee a need for further interest rate hikes this year." (From The Wall Street Journal)
"New research does suggest a link between sleep patterns and overall well-being." (From The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Google does not directly sell user data, but it does use it to personalize ads." (From an article on privacy in Wired)
"How does artificial intelligence impact the job market?" (From a report on MIT Technology Review)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (Dialogue): "She does that sometimes when she's stressed." (From an episode of Ted Lasso, Apple TV+, Season 3, March 2023)
Song Lyrics: "And the answer does not seem to be the same." (From "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel, re-released October 1965)
Video Game (Dialogue/On-screen text): "Your choice does affect the outcome of the story." (From a review of Baldur's Gate 3 on IGN, August 2023)
Podcast: "Our guest today does a deep dive into the history of renewable energy." (From an episode of Planet Money by NPR, February 2024)
General Public Discourse:
"My dog does amazing tricks for treats." (Casual conversation)
"This new policy does little to address the core issues." (Public debate/forum)
"Who does the dishes tonight?" (Household interaction)
10 Quotes Using Does
"What does not kill us makes us stronger." (Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols, 1888)
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." (Theodore Roosevelt)
"He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words." (Elbert Hubbard, The Philistine, 1904)
"That which does not kill me makes me stronger." (Kelly Clarkson, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," 2011)
"Love does not dominate; it cultivates." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
"Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh." (George Bernard Shaw)
"Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power." (John Steinbeck)
"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." (Confucius)
"The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates, as quoted by Plato in Apology)
"Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time." (George Bernard Shaw)
Etymology
The word "does" actually has two separate origins, leading to its two main meanings:
"Does" as a verb (like "he does his homework"):
This "does" comes from the Old English word "dōn," which meant "to make, act, perform, cause; to put, to place." It's related to similar words in other old Germanic languages. Over time, in Middle English, "do" started being used as an auxiliary (helping) verb, especially in questions and negative sentences, which is how we often use "does" today. Interestingly, "does" as the third-person singular present form (like "he does") was originally a regional variant in Old English, mainly from a northern dialect, and eventually replaced the older forms like "doth" or "doeth" in standard English by the 16th-17th centuries.
"Does" as a noun (plural of "doe," meaning a female deer):
This "does" comes from the Old English word "dā," which specifically meant "female deer." This word likely has Celtic roots. So, when you talk about "a herd of does," you're using a word that has a completely different historical journey than the verb form of "does." The first known use of "doe" (and by extension its plural "does") referring to a female deer dates back to before the 12th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Does
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "does," or in some cases, its base form "do" where "does" would fit grammatically in a similar construction:
How does that work? (A common question about a process or system)
What does it take? (Asking about the requirements for something)
Whatever does it mean? (An exclamation of confusion)
As the crow does fly (Referring to a direct path, as "as the crow flies" is the common idiom)
It does the trick. (It accomplishes the desired effect)
He does his bit. (He contributes his share)
She does him justice. (She represents him fairly or well)
It does no good. (It is ineffective or unhelpful)
If the shoe does fit... (A less common variant of "If the shoe fits, wear it," meaning if something applies, accept it)
He does a good job. (He performs well)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of does from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
