# good deed

CEFR B1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/good-deed
Updated: 2026-07-29

## Definition

a kind or helpful act that you do for someone else without expecting a reward.

For teachers: an act of altruism or kindness performed for the benefit of another. Often used in the context of moral duty or daily habits of helpfulness.

## Examples

- He did a good deed by helping the old lady cross the street.
- She tries to do at least one good deed every day, like donating food or helping a neighbor.
- The protagonist's single good deed in the final chapter serves as a moment of redemption for his earlier transgressions.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I made a good deed today." but "I did a good deed today." — English uses the verb 'do' for actions and tasks like 'deeds', whereas 'make' is for creating physical objects.

## Usage notes

- usually follows the verb 'do' rather than 'make'.
- Teaching tip: anchor this to the Boy Scout motto 'Do a good turn daily' to help students remember the collocation with 'do'.

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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.