Meaning & use
a deed
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Meanings
nouncountablelegallaw
A formal written document, especially one that legally transfers ownership of property or land.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a deed', 'two deeds', 'the deed to the house'.
Patterns
- a deed to something
- sign a deed
- draw up a deed
The lawyer prepared a deed to transfer the house to my sister.
You need to sign the deed in front of a witness.
He kept the deed to the land in a safe deposit box.
nouncountable
An action that is done, especially one that is good, brave, or notable.
Grammar: Often used in fixed phrases like 'good deed' or 'deeds of heroism'.
Patterns
- do a good deed
- a deed of something
- brave deeds
She did a good deed by helping the elderly neighbor with groceries.
His brave deeds during the war were remembered for generations.
Kind deeds often go unnoticed.
Word forms
| plural | deeds |
|---|
Common combinations
- title deed
- The title deed proves who owns the property.
- deed of trust
- They signed a deed of trust to secure the loan.
- good deed
- Volunteering at the shelter is a good deed.
- deed poll
- He changed his name by deed poll.
Synonyms and how they differ
- document
- A general word for any official paper; 'deed' is more specific and often has legal force for property.
- act
- Used for an action in general; 'deed' is more formal and often suggests something notable or legal.
- certificate
- An official paper that proves a fact; a deed specifically transfers ownership.
Word family
- deed verb
- To transfer property by deed (rare, legal).
- deedless adjective
- Without deeds or actions (literary).
Commonly confused: a deed or dead? a deed or deed?
a deed vs dead
Pronounced the same in some accents but means 'no longer alive'; 'deed' is a document or action.
a deed vs deed
Sometimes confused with 'deem' (to consider) or 'deed' as in 'indeed' (in fact).
Practice
Which sentence uses 'deed' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A 'good deed' means a kind action. Option 1 is wrong because a deed is a legal document, not a shopping list. Option 2 is wrong because a deed is not food. Option 3 uses 'deed' as a verb incorrectly in this context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a deed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.