ENGLISH
REFERENCE

deed

n. · v.
US //ˈdid// UK //dˈiːd// deed
  1. 1 an action (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Literary

    something that you do, especially something very good or very bad.

    an intentional act or action, often carrying a moral or noteworthy quality.

    Example

    He was rewarded for his many good deeds in the local community.

    Example

    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'.
  2. 2 property document (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Law

    a legal document that proves you own a building or land.

    a signed and delivered legal instrument that grants a right or transfers the title of property.

    Example

    After paying off the mortgage, they finally received the deed to their house.

    Example

    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.
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
  1. 3 to transfer property (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Law

    to officially give or sell land to someone using a legal document.

    to convey or transfer real estate by means of a deed.

    Example

    The land was deeded to the city to be used as a public park.

    Example

    The estate was deeded to the eldest daughter in accordance with the late patriarch's final wishes.
Origin

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”).

Word family

© 2026 English Reference