deed

/diːd/ (bre, ipa) · /diːd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdēd/ (ame, mw)

deed — noun

  • deedsingular
  • deedsplural

1. an action that someone does on purpose, especially one that is very good or very

1.名詞B1
釋義

an action that someone does on purpose, especially one that is very good or very bad and has a noticeable effect on other people

例句

Christopher earned an award for his heroic deed of saving a child from a burning car.

collocation: heroic deed

The charity asked families to do one good deed every week during the summer.

collocation: do a good deed

同義詞
  • act

    the most general and neutral word; 'deed' carries stronger moral judgement than 'act'

  • action

    broader than 'deed'; can describe any process of doing, not just a single intentional event

  • feat

    a deed that requires great skill, strength, or courage; always positive

  • exploit

    a bold or daring deed, often in war or adventure; slightly literary

用法筆記

Often appears with an adjective describing the moral quality of the action — good, evil, heroic, kind, or careless. Using 'deed' alone without a modifier sounds old-fashioned.

常見錯誤

❌He did a deed to save the cat.
✅He did a good deed by saving the cat.
💡In modern English, 'deed' almost always needs an adjective (good, heroic, evil) before it.
❌I will deed my friend a favor.
✅I will do my friend a good deed.
💡'Deed' is not a verb in this sense; use 'do a deed' as a noun phrase.

2. a written legal document that officially records an agreement, especially one pr

2.名詞B2
釋義

a written legal document that officially records an agreement, especially one proving who owns a specific house, apartment, or piece of land

例句

The lawyer handed the new owners the deed to their house after the sale.

collocation: deed to [property]

Yuki found the old deed in a drawer while cleaning out her grandmother's desk.

同義詞
  • contract

    a broader legal term for any binding agreement; less specific to property ownership than 'deed'

  • title

    the legal right to own property; 'deed' is the physical document that proves 'title'

  • document

    a general word; 'deed' is a specific type of document with legal force

用法筆記

In everyday speech, 'contract' or 'agreement' is more common for general legal documents; 'deed' is specifically used for ownership of land or buildings.

常見錯誤

❌I signed the deed for my new car.
✅I signed the contract for my new car.
💡'Deed' is used for property like land and houses, not for vehicles or personal belongings.
❌She lost the deed to her phone.
✅She lost the deed to her house.
💡Only real estate (land, buildings) takes a 'deed'; other items have receipts, warranties, or contracts.

deed — verb