doing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1 (as a form of 'do'); A2/B1 (as a distinct noun). Very high frequency.Neutral to informal. The noun 'doing' is common in all registers, while phrases like 'doings' are more informal/colloquial.
Quick answer
What does “doing” mean?
The act of performing or carrying out an action.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of performing or carrying out an action; the process of engaging in an activity.
Can refer to an event, affair, or occurrence (often plural: 'doings'); also, in expressions like 'It's your doing', it means responsibility or agency. Informally can mean fuss or trouble ('That's a lot of doing').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Doings' as a plural noun for 'events/activities' might be slightly more common in British English. The phrase 'This will take some doing' is equally common in both. No spelling differences.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. The informal noun use is neutral.
Frequency
Extremely high and comparable frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “doing” in a Sentence
[be] + doing + [noun phrase] (I am doing my homework)[preposition] + doing (tired of doing)[adjective] + doing (busy doing)doing + [prepositional phrase] (doing it for money)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'm doing the hoovering.
- What will you be doing at the weekend?
- Stop doing that!
American English
- I'm doing the vacuuming.
- What will you be doing on the weekend?
- Quit doing that!
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in project contexts: 'We are doing the analysis Q4.' Also in fixed phrases: 'way of doing business'.
Academic
Used in discussing processes and methodologies: 'His approach to doing research was innovative.'
Everyday
Ubiquitous in describing activities: 'What are you doing?' 'I'm doing the laundry.'
Technical
Less common as a standalone noun; more often part of verb phrases describing technical processes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doing”
- Using 'doings' in singular form incorrectly (*'a doing' for an event). Overusing the noun where a simpler verb or noun would suffice (*'The doing of the task was hard' vs. 'Doing the task was hard' or 'The task was hard').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It functions primarily as a gerund (a verb form ending in -ing that acts as a noun). In sentences like 'I am doing work', it is part of the present continuous verb phrase. In 'Doing is harder than saying', it is a noun.
'Doing' emphasizes the process or act of carrying something out, often with a sense of ongoing activity. 'Action' is a more general term for something done, often a single, complete event. 'Doing' is more verbal and process-oriented.
Generally, no. 'Doings' as a plural noun meaning 'events' or 'activities' is informal. In formal contexts, use words like 'activities', 'events', 'proceedings', or 'actions' instead.
It is pronounced /ˈduːɪŋ/ (DOO-ing). Be careful not to insert a /w/ sound (it's not 'DOW-ing'). The vowel is the same as in 'food'.
The act of performing or carrying out an action.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take some doing (be difficult to accomplish)”
- “Be up and doing (be active and energetic)”
- “Doings (events/activities, often informal: 'the day's doings')”
- “It's your doing (you are responsible for it)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'DO' + 'ING' = DOing an action that is ONGOING.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACTION IS MOTION (e.g., 'get doing', 'keep doing'), ACTIVITY IS A SUBSTANCE (e.g., 'a lot of doing', 'take some doing').
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'the day's doings', what does 'doings' most likely mean?