done
done
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "done" is /dʌn/.
dun: /dʌn/
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
/ʌ/ - near-open central unrounded vowel
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
"Done" is primarily a past participle of the verb "do." It can also function as an adjective, and in some informal contexts, as a noun or an adverb.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb (Past Participle of "Do")
Definition 1: Completed, finished, or brought to a conclusion.
Synonyms: finished, completed, accomplished, achieved, concluded, ended, executed, performed.
Antonyms: undone, incomplete, unfinished, starting, beginning, commenced.
Definition 2: (Of a task or action) Performed or carried out.
Synonyms: performed, carried out, executed, acted upon.
Antonyms: neglected, omitted, undone, undone, unperformed.
Definition 3: (Informal, often with "with") No longer involved with or interested in something or someone.
Synonyms: through with, finished with, over with, fed up with (informal).
Antonyms: involved with, interested in, beginning with.
Adjective
Definition 1: Cooked to a desired state of readiness.
Example: "The steak is well done."
Synonyms: cooked, prepared, ready.
Antonyms: raw, undercooked, uncooked, rare (for meat).
Definition 2: (Of a person) Exhausted or worn out.
Synonyms: exhausted, weary, fatigued, spent, tired, worn out.
Antonyms: refreshed, energetic, invigorated, rested.
Definition 3: (Informal) Agreed upon or settled.
Example: "It's a done deal."
Synonyms: agreed, settled, finalized, decided, established.
Antonyms: undecided, unsettled, pending, unresolved.
Noun (Informal, typically used in phrases)
Definition 1: (Usually preceded by "the") Something that has been completed or achieved, often in a significant or final way.
Example: "That's the done thing around here."
Synonyms: achievement, accomplishment, feat, deed, completed act.
Antonyms: beginning, start, inception.
Adverb (Informal, less common and often merged with adjective usage)
Definition 1: (Used for emphasis, implying thoroughness or completion) To a complete extent; thoroughly.
Example: "He cleaned the car done." (Less common in standard English, more regional or informal)
Synonyms: completely, thoroughly, entirely, fully.
Antonyms: partially, incompletely.
Examples of Use
Books:
"When all was said and done, the greatest strength of the British navy lay in its unyielding determination." (From "Nelson: Britannia's God of War" by Andrew Lambert, 2004)
"She felt a profound sense of peace once the difficult conversation was finally done." (Fictional example consistent with common usage in novels)
Newspapers:
"The government's infrastructure project is almost done, with the final phase of road construction expected to conclude next month." (The Daily Nation)
"Polls show that voters are largely done with political infighting and want to see tangible progress." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"After months of intense debate, the new privacy policy has been done and dusted by the committee." (TechCrunch)
"Are you done with your current streaming obsession? Here are five new shows to binge-watch." (BuzzFeed)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "I'm done running. I'm done hiding. I'm done being afraid." (Dialogue from "The Maze Runner," 2014)
Television Series: "Looks like our work here is done." (Common line in many crime procedural shows, e.g., "NCIS," various episodes)
Music (Song Title): "Done" by The Band Perry (2013)
Video Games: "Quest Completed: Well done, adventurer!" (Common message displayed after completing a mission in role-playing games like "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim," 2011)
Podcasts: "Once the editing is done, the episode will be uploaded for all our listeners." (From "The Daily" podcast, June 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"Are you done with your homework yet?" (Common parental inquiry)
"I'm done for the day; I'm heading home." (Colloquial expression used at the end of a workday)
"The cake is done; you can take it out of the oven now." (Everyday conversation about cooking)
"That's a done deal, we shook on it." (Informal agreement between individuals)
10 Quotes Using Done
"Well done is better than well said." (Benjamin Franklin)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle." (Steve Jobs, Stanford University Commencement Address, 2005)
"I have not yet begun to fight!" (John Paul Jones, 1779, though often paraphrased or slightly altered)
"What's done is done." (William Shakespeare, Macbeth)
"A thing well done is not easily undone." (George Herbert)
"Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today." (Thomas Jefferson)
"I'm done with you!" (Common expression in various dramatic works and everyday conversation, e.g., often attributed to characters in "The Young and the Restless")
"It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do your best." (W. Edwards Deming)
"What's done cannot be undone." (William Shakespeare, Macbeth)
"If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing well." (G.K. Chesterton, often misattributed or paraphrased to include "worth being done")
Etymology
The word "done" comes from Old English, specifically from the past participle of the verb "do," which was "dōn" or "gedōn." You can think of it as being built from "do" plus a past participle ending that used to be more common, similar to how we have "broken" (from "break") or "given" (from "give").
The earliest meaning of "done" was essentially "made, acted, performed, or caused." So, when something was "done," it meant it had been completed or carried out. Over time, it developed the meaning of something being "finished" or "accomplished," which is still its primary meaning today, whether we're talking about a task being done or a steak being cooked to perfection.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Done
Done deal: An agreement or transaction that is settled and finalized.
Done and dusted: Completely finished or concluded.
Easier said than done: Something that sounds simple but is difficult to achieve.
When all is said and done: When everything has been considered or the final outcome is determined.
Done for: In a hopeless situation; defeated or ruined.
Done with (someone/something): No longer involved with or interested in someone or something.
Have done with it: To finish something, often with a sense of relief or impatience.
It's not done: It's not socially acceptable or customary.
Well done: An expression of praise for an accomplishment.
Done to a turn: Cooked perfectly (especially meat).
Done in: Exhausted or very tired.
Done up: Dressed elaborately or decorated.
Done to death: Overused or excessively performed to the point of being boring or ineffective.
Can't be undone: Cannot be reversed or changed back.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of done from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
