deed

UK: /ˈdiːd/ US: /did/ ,(dēd)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

deed /did/   n. [countable]

1. something that is done;
   an act:
   a good deed.
2. an achievement;
   feat:
   deeds of daring.
3. Law an official record of a sale or a transfer of ownership, such as of a house:
   Do you have the deed to the house in a safe place?

v. [ ~ + obj]

4. Law to transfer by deed:
   deeded the property to his sons.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

deed  (dēd), n. 

1. something that is done, performed, or accomplished;
   an act:
   Do a good deed every day.
2. an exploit or achievement;
   feat:
   brave deeds.
3. Often, deeds. an act or gesture, esp. as illustrative of intentions, one's character, or the like:
   Her deeds speak for themselves.
4. Law a writing or document executed under seal and delivered to effect a conveyance, esp. of real estate.

v.t. 

5. Law to convey or transfer by deed.

• bef. 900; Middle English dede, Old English dēd, variant of dǣd; cognate with German Tat, Gothic gadēths; see do¹

deed′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. See action. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

deed / diːd/ noun

1. something that is done or performed; act
2. a notable achievement; feat; exploit
3. action or performance, as opposed to words
4. a formal legal document signed, witnessed, and delivered to effect a conveyance or transfer of property or to create a legal obligation or contract

verb

1. (transitive) to convey or transfer (property) by deed

Etymology: Old English dēd; related to Old High German tāt, Gothic gadeths; see do¹