# doth

/ˈdɔθ/ (US) · /dˈʌθ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/doth
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

an old-fashioned way of saying 'does'. You will mostly see this in very old books or poems by writers like Shakespeare.

For teachers: the archaic third-person singular present tense of 'do'. Used exclusively in historical, poetic, or liturgical contexts.

## Examples

- The lady doth protest too much.
- In the old poem, the poet writes that the sun doth shine upon the valley.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They doth go" but "They do go" — 'Doth' is strictly for third-person singular subjects; plural subjects require 'do'.

## Usage notes

- Archaic form of 'do'; used with a singular subject like 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.