doing
doing
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "doing" is /ˈduːɪŋ/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
doo-: /duː/ (as in "doo" of "doom")
-ing: /ɪŋ/ (as in "ing" of "sing")
Word Form Variations
Base form/Infinitive: do
Third-person singular simple present: does
Simple past: did
Present participle: doing
Past participle: done
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1 (Present Participle of 'Do'): Engaging in an action, activity, or task; performing or carrying out something.
Synonyms: performing, executing, carrying out, undertaking, accomplishing, engaging in
Antonyms: resting, refraining, ceasing, avoiding, neglecting
Definition 2 (Present Participle of 'Do' - describing health/well-being): Experiencing or feeling in a particular state of health or overall well-being. Often used in questions or statements about condition.
Synonyms: faring, progressing, feeling, experiencing
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this usage, as it describes a state rather than an action that can be reversed)
Definition 3 (Present Participle of 'Do' - as a continuous action): In the process of completing or bringing about a particular result or outcome.
Synonyms: creating, producing, generating, making, achieving
Antonyms: undoing, ruining, destroying, failing, hindering
Noun
Definition 1 (An action or activity): A specific act, action, or set of activities that someone performs or engages in. Often used in the plural ("doings") to refer to general activities or events.
Synonyms: act, deed, action, activity, conduct, behavior, endeavor
Antonyms: inaction, idleness, passivity, repose, rest
Definition 2 (Behavior or conduct): The manner in which someone behaves or conducts themselves.
Synonyms: conduct, behavior, comportment, demeanor, actions
Antonyms: inaction, stillness
Examples of Use
Books:
"His latest doing was to invent a machine that could butter toast automatically, much to his wife's amusement." (From a fictional novel)
"In The Lord of the Rings, the fellowship was constantly doing battle with various creatures of Mordor." (Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings)
Newspapers:
"The government is doing its utmost to address the rising cost of living, with new policies expected next quarter."
"Police are doing their investigations into the recent cybersecurity breach at the national bank."
Online Publications:
"What are you doing to stay productive while working from home?" (Lifehacker.com)
"The startup is doing exceptionally well in the competitive tech market, attracting significant investor interest." (TechCrunch.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Show Dialogue: "Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were on vacation!" (Friends)
Movie Quote: "Just keep doing what you're doing." (Friends)
Song Lyrics: "I'm doing fine, I'm doing good / I'm doing everything I should." (Generic pop song lyric)
Video Game: "You're doing great! Keep doing those combos!" (Street Fighter series)
Podcast: "In today's episode, we're doing a deep dive into the history of artificial intelligence." (Stuff You Should Know)
General Public Discourse:
"How are you doing today?" (Common greeting in everyday conversation)
"I'm doing my best to learn Spanish before my trip." (Casual conversation among friends)
"What are the kids doing this summer?" (Parental conversation about children's activities)
"He's doing a great job leading the community project." (Positive feedback in a community meeting)
10 Famous Quotes Using Doing
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." (Attributed to Alan Kay)
"Well begun is half done." (Attributed to Aristotle)
"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion." (Attributed to Alexander the Great)
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." (Wayne Gretzky)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." (Steve Jobs)
"If you're going through hell, keep going." (Winston Churchill)
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." (Attributed to Aristotle)
"Just keep swimming." (Dory, Finding Nemo)
"What are you doing, Dave?" (HAL 9000, 2001: A Space Odyssey)
"A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on doing, but on being, will be able to experience true joy." (Wayne Dyer)
Etymology
The word "doing" comes from the very old English verb "do." To trace it back even further, "do" has roots in a much older language family called Proto-Indo-European. The original meaning of this ancient root was something like "to put, to place, to set," or generally "to make."
So, think of "do" as one of the fundamental building blocks of action words in English. Over time, it developed a broader meaning of "perform, execute, achieve, or carry out something."
The word "doing" itself, as a noun referring to an action or something performed, first appeared in English around the early 13th century (specifically, the Oxford English Dictionary notes evidence from 1357 for the noun form). It was formed by adding the "-ing" ending (which typically indicates an ongoing action or a verbal noun) to the verb "do."
Essentially, "doing" started out as a way to describe something that was being done, or an act that had been done. It's a testament to how ancient and central the concept of "action" is in our language!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Doing
How are you doing? (Common greeting)
Doing business (Engaging in commercial activity)
Get down to doing something (Start working on something seriously)
Doing a number on [someone/something] (Causing harm or damage to someone or something)
Doing time (Serving a prison sentence)
Nothing doing (Absolutely not; no chance)
What's doing? (Informal greeting asking what's happening or new)
Doing well/badly (Faring successfully or unsuccessfully)
Doing a double take (Looking twice at something because it's surprising or unusual)
Have something doing (To have something planned or arranged)
Doing your own thing (Behaving in a way that is true to oneself, often unconventional)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of doing from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.