do1 verb

BrE /d/ ; NAmE /d/ ; BrE /du/ ; NAmE /du/ ; BrE strong form /du/ ;
NAmE strong form /du/
+ VERB FORMS
action
1 [transitive] do something used to refer to actions that you do not
mention by name or do not know about What are you doing this
evening?
We will do what we can to help.
Are you doing anything tomorrow evening?
The company ought to do something about the poor service.
What have you done to your hair?
There's nothing to do (= no means of passing the time in an enjoyable
way) in this place.
There's nothing we can do about it (= we can't change the situation).
What can I do for you (= how can I help)?
behave
2 [intransitive] to act or behave in the way mentioned do as Do as
you're told!
They are free to do as they please.
+ adverb/preposition You would do well to (= I advise you to)
consider all the options before buying.
succeed/progress
3 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition used to ask or talk about the
success or progress of somebody/something How is the business doing?
She did well out of (= made a big profit from) the deal.
He's doing very well at school (= his work is good).
Both mother and baby are doing well (= after the birth of the baby).
(informal) How are you doing (= how are you)?
task/activity
4 [transitive] do something to work at or perform an activity or a task
I'm doing some research on the subject.
I have a number of things to do today.
I do aerobics once a week.
Let's do (= meet for) lunch.
(informal) Sorry. I don't do funny (= I can't be funny).
5 [transitive] do something used with nouns to talk about tasks such as
cleaning, washing, arranging, etc to do (= wash) the dishes
to do (= arrange) the flowers

I like the way you've done your hair.

6 [transitive] to perform the activity or task mentioned do the ironing,
cooking, shopping, etc. I like listening to the radio when I'm doing the
ironing.
do some, a little, etc. acting, writing, etc. She did a lot of acting
when she was at college.
+ VOCABULARY BUILDING
job
7 [transitive] do something (usually used in questions) to work at
something as a job What do you do (= what is your job)?
What does she want to do when she leaves school?
What did she do for a living?
What's Tom doing these days?
study
8 [transitive] do something to learn or study something I'm doing
physics, biology and chemistry.
Have you done any (= studied anything by) Keats?
solve
9 [transitive] do something to find the answer to something; to solve
something I can't do this sum.
Are you good at doing crosswords?
make
10 [transitive] to produce or make something do something to do a
drawing/painting/sketch
Does this pub do (= provide) lunches?
Who's doing (= organizing and preparing) the food for the wedding
reception?
do something for somebody I'll do a copy for you.
do somebody something I'll do you a copy.
+ SYNONYMS
perform
11 [transitive] do something to perform or produce a play, an opera,
etc The local dramatic society is doing Hamlet next month.
copy somebody

12 [transitive] do somebody/something to copy somebodys

behaviour or the way somebody speaks, sings, etc., especially in order
to make people laugh He does a great Elvis Presley.
Can you do a Welsh accent?
finish
13 [intransitive, transitive] to finish something have/be done Sit there
and wait till I've done.
have/be done doing something I've done talkinglet's get started.
get something done Did you get your article done in time?
travel
14 [transitive] do something to travel a particular distance How many
miles did you do during your tour?
My car does 40 miles to the gallon (= uses one gallon of petrol/gas to
travel 40 miles).
15 [transitive] do something to complete a journey/trip We did the
round trip in two hours.
speed
16 [transitive] do something to travel at or reach a particular speed
The car was doing 90 miles an hour.
visit
17 [transitive] do something (informal) to visit a place as a tourist We
did Tokyo in three days.
spend time
18 [transitive] do something to spend a period of time doing
something She did a year at college, but then dropped out.
He did six years (= in prison) for armed robbery.
deal with
19 [transitive] do somebody/something to deal with or attend to
somebody/something The hairdresser said she could do me (= cut my
hair) at three.
be suitable/enough
20 [intransitive, transitive] to be suitable or be enough for
somebody/something Can you lend me some money? Surewill $20
do?
do for somebody/something These shoes won't do for the party.
do as something The box will do fine as a table.
do somebody (+ adverb/preposition) (especially British English)
This room will do me nicely, thank you (= it has everything I need).

cook
21 [transitive] do something to cook something How would you like
your steak done?
cheat
22 [transitive, usually passive] do somebody (British English, informal)
to cheat somebody This isn't a genuine antiqueyou've been done.
punish
23 [transitive] do somebody (for something) (British English,
informal) to punish somebody They did him for tax evasion.
She got done for speeding.
steal
24 [transitive] do something (informal) to steal from a place The gang
did a warehouse and a supermarket.
take drugs
25 [transitive] do something (informal) to take an illegal drug He
doesn't smoke, drink or do drugs.
have sex
26 [transitive] do it (slang) to have sex
+ WORD ORIGIN
+ EXTRA EXAMPLES
Idioms
Most idioms containing do are at the entries for the nouns and
adjectives in the idioms, for example do a bunk is at bunk.
be/have to do with somebody/something
to be about or connected with somebody/something What do you want
to see me about? It's to do with that letter you sent me.
have (got) something, nothing, a lot, etc. to do with
somebody/something
used to talk about how much somebody/something is connected with
somebody/something Her job has something to do with computers.
How much do you earn? What's it got to do with you?
Hard work has a lot to do with (= is an important reason for) her
success.

We don't have very much to do with our neighbours (= we do not speak

to them very often).
I'd have nothing to do with him, if I were you.
it wont do
(especially British English) used to say that a situation is not acceptable
and should be changed or improved This is the third time you've been
late this week; it simply won't do.
not do anything/a lot/much for somebody
(informal) used to say that something does not make somebody look
attractive That hairstyle doesn't do anything for her.
nothing doing
(informal) used to refuse a request Can you lend me ten dollars?
Nothing doing!
no you dont
(informal) used to show that you intend to stop somebody from doing
something that they were going to do Sharon went to get into the taxi.
Oh no you don't, said Steve.
that does it
(informal) used to show that you will not accept something any longer
That does it, I'm off. I'm not having you swear at me like that.
thats done it
(informal) used to say that an accident, a mistake, etc. has spoiled or
ruined something That's done it. You've completely broken it this time.
that will do
used to order somebody to stop doing or saying something That'll do,
childrenyou're getting far too noisy.
what do you do for something?
used to ask how somebody manages to obtain the thing mentioned
What do you do for entertainment out here?
what is somebody/something doing?
used to ask why somebody/something is in the place mentioned What
are these shoes doing on my desk?
Phrasal Verbs
do away with somebody/yourself
(informal) to kill somebody/yourself
do away with something

(informal) to stop doing or having something; to make something end

SYNONYM abolish
He thinks it's time we did away with the monarchy.
do somebody/something down
(British English, informal) to criticize somebody/something unfairly
do for somebody/something
[usually passive] (informal) to ruin, destroy or kill somebody/something
Without that contract, we're done for.
It was the cold that did for him in the end.
do somebody/yourself in (informal)
1 to kill somebody/yourself
2 [usually passive] to make somebody very tired Come and sit down
you look done in.
do somethingin
(informal) to injure a part of the body He did his back in lifting heavy
furniture.
do somebody out of something
(informal) to unfairly prevent somebody from having what they ought to
have She was done out of her promotion.
do somebody over
(informal, especially British English) to attack and beat somebody
severely He was done over by a gang of thugs.
do somethingover
1 to clean or decorate something again The paintwork will need doing
over soon.
2 (North American English) to do something again She insisted that
everything be done over.
3 (British English, informal) to enter a building by force and steal things
He got home to find that his flat had been done over.
do up
to be fastened The skirt does up at the back.
do somethingup
1 to fasten a coat, skirt, etc He never bothers to do his jacket up.
OPPOSITE undo
2 to make something into a package

SYNONYM wrap
She was carrying a package done up in brown paper.
3 to repair and decorate a house, etc He makes money by buying old
houses and doing them up.
do yourself up
(informal) to make yourself more attractive by putting on make-up,
attractive clothes, etc.
do something with somebody/something
(used in negative sentences and questions with what) I don't know what
to do with (= how to use) all the food that's left over.
What have you done with (= where have you put) my umbrella?
What have you been doing with yourselves (= how have you been
passing the time)?
SEE ALSO cant be doing with somebody/something/somebody
doing something, could do with something
do without (somebody/something)
to manage without somebody/something She can't do without a
secretary.
If they can't get it to us in time, we'll just have to do without.
do without doing something (ironic) I could have done without
being (= I wish I had not been) woken up at three in the morning.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th edition Oxford University

Press, 2015

make verb
BrE /mek/ ; NAmE /mek/
SEE ALSO made
+ VERB FORMS
create
1 to create or prepare something by combining materials or putting
parts together make something to make a table/dress/cake
to make bread/cement/paper
She makes her own clothes.
made in France (= on a label)
make something (out) of something What's your shirt made of?
make something from something Wine is made from grapes.
make something into something The grapes are made into wine.
make something for somebody She made coffee for us all.
make somebody something She made us all coffee.
+ VOCABULARY BUILDING
2 make something to write, create or prepare something These
regulations were made to protect children.
My lawyer has been urging me to make a will.
She has made (= directed or acted in) several movies.
a bed
3 make a bed to arrange a bed so that it is neat and ready for use
cause to appear/happen/become/do
4 make something (+ adverb/preposition) to cause something to
appear as a result of breaking, tearing, hitting or removing material The
stone made a dent in the roof of the car.
The holes in the cloth were made by moths.
5 make something to cause something to exist, happen or be done to
make a noise/mess/fuss
She tried to make a good impression on the interviewer.
I keep making the same mistakes.
+ SYNONYMS
6 make somebody/something/yourself + adjective to cause
somebody/something to be or become something The news made him
very happy.

She made her objections clear.

He made it clear that he objected.
The full story was never made public.
Can you make yourself understood in Russian?
She couldn't make herself heard above the noise of the traffic.
The terrorists made it known that tourists would be targeted.
7 make somebody/something do something to cause
somebody/something to do something She always makes me laugh.
This dress makes me look fat.
What makes you say that (= why do you think so)?
Nothing will make me change my mind.
8 to cause somebody/something to be or become something make
something of somebody/something This isn't very importantI don't
want to make an issue of it.
Don't make a habit of it.
You've made a terrible mess of this job.
It's important to try and make something of (= achieve something in)
your life.
We'll make a tennis player of you yet.
make something + noun I made painting the house my project for
the summer.
She made it her business to find out who was responsible.
a decision/guess/comment, etc.
9 make a decision, guess, comment, etc. to decide, guess, etc.
something Come on! It's time we made a start.
Make can be used in this way with a number of different nouns. These
expressions are included at the entry for each noun.
force
10 to force somebody to do something make somebody do
something They made me repeat the whole story.
be made to do something She must be made to comply with the
rules.
make somebody He never cleans his room and his mother never tries
to make him.
represent
11 to represent somebody/something as being or doing something
make somebody/something + adjective You've made my nose too
big (= for example in a drawing).
make somebody/something + noun He makes King Lear a truly
tragic figure.

appoint
12 make somebody + noun to elect or choose somebody as
something She made him her assistant.
be suitable
13 linking verb make somebody/something + noun to become or
develop into something; to be suitable for something She would have
made an excellent teacher.
This room would make a nice office.
equal
14 linking verb + noun to add up to or equal something 5 and 7 make
12.
A hundred cents make one euro.
15 linking verb + noun to be a total of something That makes the third
time he's failed his driving test!
money
16 make something to earn or gain money She makes $100 000 a
year.
to make a profit/loss
We need to think of ways to make money.
He made a fortune on the stock market.
He makes a living as a stand-up comic.
calculate
17 [no passive] make something + noun to think or calculate
something to be something What time do you make it?
I make that exactly $50.
reach
18 [no passive] make something to manage to reach or go to a place
or position Do you think we'll make Dover by 12?
I'm sorry I couldn't make your party last night.
He'll never make (= get a place in) the team.
The story made (= appeared on) the front pages of the national
newspapers.
We just managed to make the deadline (= to finish something in
time).
something successful
19 make something to cause something to be a success Good wine
can make a meal.
The news really made my day.

+ MORE LIKE THIS

+ WORD ORIGIN
+ EXTRA EXAMPLES
Idioms
Most idioms containing make are at the entries for the nouns and
adjectives in the idioms, for example make merry is at merry.
make as if to do something
to make a movement that makes it seem as if you are just going to do
something He made as if to speak.
make do (with something)
to manage with something that is not really good enough We were in a
hurry so we had to make do with a quick snack.
make good
to become rich and successful
make something good
1 to pay for, replace or repair something that has been lost or damaged
She promised to make good the damage.
2 to do something that you have promised, threatened, etc. to do
SYNONYM fulfil
make it
1 to be successful in your career He never really made it as an actor.
2 to succeed in reaching a place in time, especially when this is difficult
The flight leaves in twenty minuteswe'll never make it.
3 to be able to be present at a place I'm sorry I won't be able to make it
(= for example, to a party) on Saturday.
4 to survive after a serious illness or accident; to deal successfully with
a difficult experience The doctors think he's going to make it.
I don't know how I made it through the week.
make it with somebody
(North American English, slang) to have sex with somebody
make like

(North American English, informal) to pretend to be, know or have

something in order to impress people He makes like he's the greatest
actor of all time.
make the most of something/somebody/yourself
to gain as much advantage, enjoyment, etc. as you can from
somebody/something It's my first trip abroad so I'm going to make the
most of it.
She doesn't know how to make the most of herself (= make herself
appear in the best possible way).
make much of something/somebody
to treat something/somebody as very important He always makes much
of his humble origins.
make or break somebody/something
to be the thing that makes somebody/something either a success or a
failure This movie will make or break him as a director.
It's make-or-break time for the company.
make something of yourself
to be successful in your life
Phrasal Verbs
make for something
1 to move towards something
2 to help to make something possible Constant arguing doesn't make for
a happy marriage.
SEE ALSO (be) made for somebody/each other
make somebody/something into somebody/something
to change somebody/something into somebody/something
SYNONYM turn into
We're making our attic into an extra bedroom.
make something of somebody/something
to understand the meaning or character of somebody/something What
do you make of it all?
I can't make anything of this note.
I don't know what to make of (= think of) the new manager.
make of
to hurry away, especially in order to escape
make of with something
to steal something and hurry away with it
make out

1 (informal) used to ask if somebody managed well or was successful in

a particular situation How did he make out while his wife was away?
2 make out (with somebody) (North American English, informal) to
kiss and touch somebody in a sexual way; to have sex with somebody
make somebody out
to understand somebodys character
make somebody/somethingout
1 to manage to see somebody/something or read or hear something
SYNONYM distinguish
I could just make out a figure in the darkness.
make out what, who, etc I could hear voices but I couldn't make
out what they were saying.
+ SYNONYMS
2 to say that something is true when it may not be
SYNONYM claim
She's not as rich as people make out.
make out that He made out that he had been robbed.
make somebody/something out to be/do something She makes
herself out to be smarter than she really is.
make somethingout
1 to write out or complete a form or document He made out a cheque
for 100.
The doctor made out a prescription for me.
Applications must be made out in triplicate.
2 (used in negative sentences and questions) to understand something;
to see the reasons for something How do you make that out (= what are
your reasons for thinking that)?
make out what, why, etc I can't make out what she wants.
make somethingover (to somebody/something)
1 to legally give something to somebody He made over the property to
his eldest son.
2 to change something in order to make it look different or use it for a
different purpose; to give somebody a different appearance by changing
their clothes, hair, etc.
SYNONYM transform
RELATED NOUN makeover
make towards something
to start moving towards something He made towards the door.

make up | make yourself/somebodyup

to put powder, lipstick, etc. on your/somebodys face to make it more
attractive or to prepare for an appearance in the theatre, on television,
etc.
RELATED NOUN make-up (1)
make somethingup
1 to form something
SYNONYM constitute
Women make up 56% of the student numbers.
RELATED NOUN make-up
+ SYNONYMS
+ LANGUAGE BANK
2 to put something together from several different things
RELATED NOUN make-up
3 to invent a story, etc., especially in order to trick or entertain
somebody He made up some excuse about his daughter being sick.
I told the kids a story, making it up as I went along.
You made that up!
4 to complete a number or an amount required We need one more
person to make up a team.
5 to replace something that has been lost; to compensate for something
Can I leave early this afternoon and make up the time tomorrow?
6 to prepare a medicine by mixing different things together
7 to prepare a bed for use; to create a temporary bed We made up the
bed in the spare room.
They made up a bed for me on the sofa.
8 (especially North American English) to clean a hotel room and make
the bed The maid asked if she could make up the room.
They had forgotten to make up the room.
make up for something
to do something that corrects a bad situation
SYNONYM compensate
Nothing can make up for the loss of a child.
After all the delays, we were anxious to make up for lost time.

Her enthusiasm makes up for her lack of experience.

A warm and sunny September made up for a miserable wet August.
make up (to somebody) for something
to do something for somebody or give them something because you
have caused them trouble, suffering or disappointment and wish to show
that you are sorry
SYNONYM compensate
How can I make up for the way I've treated you?
(informal) I'll make it up to you, I promise.
make up to somebody
(British English, informal, disapproving) to be pleasant to somebody,
praise them, etc., especially in order to get an advantage for yourself
make up (with somebody)
(British English also make it up)
to end a disagreement with somebody and become friends again Why
don't you two kiss and make up?
Has he made it up with her yet?
Have they made it up yet?

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th edition Oxford University

Press, 2015