Word
deed
US/ˈdid/
UK/dˈiːd/
Definitions
01an action
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Formal · Literary
n. something that you do, especially something very good or very bad.
n. an intentional act or action, often carrying a moral or noteworthy quality.
日本語:行い※
“He was rewarded for his many good deeds in the local community.”
“The knight's heroic deeds were celebrated in songs and stories throughout the kingdom for generations.”
Usage
Often appears in the fixed phrase 'good deed'.
02property document
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Technical
n. a legal document that proves you own a building or land.
n. a signed and delivered legal instrument that grants a right or transfers the title of property.
日本語:証書※
“After paying off the mortgage, they finally received the deed to their house.”
“The solicitor examined the property deed to ensure there were no hidden restrictions on the land use.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural ('deeds') when referring to the collection of documents for a property.
03to transfer property
C2 · Proficiency Law Formal · Technical
v. to officially give or sell land to someone using a legal document.
v. to convey or transfer real estate by means of a deed.
“The land was deeded to the city to be used as a public park.”
“The estate was deeded to the eldest daughter in accordance with the late patriarch's final wishes.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “deed” in context.
Verb
01. perform a deed
“She believes that everyone should perform a good deed every single day.”
verb + noun
02. sign the deed
“After months of negotiations, they finally met at the lawyer's office to sign the deed.”
verb + noun
03. transfer the deed to the house
“It took several weeks for the solicitor to transfer the deed to the house to the new owners.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
04. dastardly deed
“The villain in the play was booed by the audience for his dastardly deeds.”
adj + noun
05. heroic deed
“The firefighter was awarded a medal for his heroic deed during the blaze.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. deed of gift
“The painting was handed over to the museum through a formal deed of gift.”
noun + of + noun
07. deed of sale
“The deed of sale was carefully filed in the bank's vault for safekeeping.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in word and deed
“He proved his loyalty to the company in both word and deed over twenty years.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Over the years when I would hear about all her good deeds, I was never surprised, having experienced her generosity first-hand.” “The man who served prison time for his role in what he said was covering up Trump’s “dirty deeds” has submitted an application for a pardon.” Etymology
From Middle English dede, from Old English dēd, dǣd (“deed, act”), from Proto-West Germanic dādi, from Proto-Germanic dēdiz (“deed”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰéh₁tis (“deed, action”). Analyzable through Proto-Germanic as do + -th. Doublet of thesis. The real estate sense derives from the fact that property deeds are traditionally used to demonstrate proof of ownership of a legal title in common law jurisdictions, such as England & Wales and most of the United States. Cognates Cognate with West Frisian died, Dutch daad (“deed, act”), German Low German Daad, German Tat (“deed, action”), Swedish, Norwegian and Danish dåd (“act, action”). The Proto-Indo-European root is also the source of Ancient Greek θέσις (thésis, “setting, arrangement”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/deed
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0