done

1.verbA1

Definition

the form of the verb 'do' that is used after 'have,' 'has,' or 'had' to show that an action is finished, or after 'be' or 'get' to show that someone or something receives an action.

Example

Adina has already done all her maths homework before her mother gets home from work.

present perfect: has + done

By the time the guests arrived, Daichi had done most of the cooking for the party.

past perfect: had + done

Grammar Patterns

have/has/had + done

be + done

get + done

Usage Note

Frequently appears in contracted forms in everyday speech: 've done (I've done), 's done (She's done). Cannot function as a main verb without an auxiliary — "I done it" is nonstandard. The passive pattern get + done is informal but very common (e.g., "Let's get this done quickly").

Common Mistakes

I done the dishes last night.

I did the dishes last night.

'done' is a past participle and needs an auxiliary verb ('have' or 'had') to form a complete verb phrase in standard English.

The report is done by Sarah yesterday.

The report was done by Sarah yesterday.

When referring to a completed past event with 'be + done,' use the past form 'was'/'were,' not the present 'is'/'are.'

1.adjectiveA2

Definition

in a state where something no longer needs attention, effort, or use because all necessary work on it is complete.

Example

Lara was relieved when her final exam was finally done.

be done (state of completion)

Are you done with that magazine yet? Iker wants to read it.

collocation: be done with [something]

Common collocations

done with
get something done
have something done

Synonyms

finished
identical in meaning but slightly more formal; works both before and after nouns ('finished product' vs. 'the project is finished')
completed
more formal and suggests every required step was carried out; common in project management and official contexts
over
used for events or periods of time rather than tasks ('the exam is over'); more colloquial

Antonyms

unfinished
the direct opposite; work that remains to be done
pending
formal term for matters still waiting to be dealt with

Grammar Patterns

be done

be done with + noun phrase

get + noun phrase + done

Usage Note

Cannot be placed before a noun — you cannot say "a done project" in this sense. The pattern be done with + noun phrase is very common in conversation for stating that you have finished using something (e.g., "I'm done with the scissors"). The causative get something done implies arranging for someone else to do the work. Distinguish from sense 3 (AGREED & CERTAIN), where done can appear before a noun: "a done deal."

Common Mistakes

I am done my homework.

I am done with my homework.' or 'I have done my homework.

The pattern 'be done + direct object' without 'with' is not standard in most varieties of English.

2.adjectiveA2

Definition

of food — ready to eat because it has been heated or prepared for the correct length of time.

Example

Check the chicken with a fork to see if it is done in the middle.

checking if food is done

The pasta should be done in about ten minutes according to the packet.

Common collocations

well done
medium done
rare done
not done yet

Synonyms

cooked
more general; can describe any level of heat treatment, not only readiness to serve
ready
focuses on the serving moment rather than the cooking process
cooked through
emphasises that the centre is no longer raw

Antonyms

raw
completely uncooked
undercooked
not cooked enough to be safe or pleasant to eat
overdone
cooked too long; opposite in the other direction

Grammar Patterns

be done

well done

rare/medium/well done

Usage Note

Common with degree expressions: well done (fully cooked through), medium/medium done (slightly pink centre — used especially for steak), and rare done (minimally cooked, cool red centre). Overdone means cooked too long. The phrase not done yet is the usual way to say food is still raw or undercooked.

Common Mistakes

I like my steak full done.

I like my steak well done.

The standard collocation is 'well done,' not 'full done' or 'completely done.'

The vegetables are still not yet.

The vegetables are not done yet.

The adjective 'done' is required; omitting it sounds incomplete.

3.adjectiveB1

Definition

of a plan or agreement — already decided or confirmed, so there is no need for more discussion or any change.

Example

The deal between the two publishers is done and will be announced on Monday.

be done (of a formal arrangement)

It is a done deal — Aarav signed the papers this morning and the apartment is his.

idiom: a done deal

Common collocations

done deal
done and dusted

Synonyms

settled
similar meaning but more neutral in register; does not carry the same informal warmth
finalised
British spelling; more formal and suggests official paperwork has been completed
confirmed
emphasises that verification has taken place rather than that the arrangement is irreversible

Antonyms

pending
waiting for a decision or confirmation
up in the air
informal; not yet decided or settled

Grammar Patterns

be done

a done deal

Usage Note

Unlike the FINISHED sense (sense 1), this sense CAN appear before a noun in the fixed phrase a done deal. The phrase it's done in this sense carries a tone of finality and satisfaction — not just 'completed' but 'settled beyond dispute.' Common in business and casual contexts, less so in formal legal writing.

Common Mistakes

Our marriage is done' (meaning the wedding is confirmed).

The wedding arrangements are done.

'done' for a confirmed arrangement sounds odd with personal relationships; use 'settled' or 'finalised' instead.

Idioms

be done for

idiom

to be in a situation where failure, defeat, or death is almost certain.

If the boat springs a leak this far from shore, we are done for.

After the boss saw the mistake in the report, Chidi knew he was done for.

be done in

idiom

to be extremely tired; completely exhausted from physical or mental effort.

After hiking twelve kilometres up the mountain trail, everyone was completely done in.

Darius was done in after pulling an all-nighter to finish the assignment.

the done thing

idiom

the behaviour that is socially correct or expected according to the customs of a particular group or situation.

In Japanese culture, it is the done thing to bow when greeting someone older than you.

Bringing a small gift when you visit someone's home for dinner is the done thing in many countries.

easier said than done

idiom

used to say that something is much more difficult to actually carry out than it is to talk about or suggest.

My doctor told me to stop eating sugar, but that is easier said than done when you have a sweet tooth.

Moving to a new country sounds exciting, but finding a job and housing there is easier said than done.

be hard done by

idiom

to be treated unfairly or to receive less than one deserves in a particular situation.

Brooke felt hard done by when her colleague got the promotion despite having less experience.

The smaller schools in the region are hard done by in the government's funding scheme.

no sooner said than done

idiom

used to emphasise that something was done or arranged immediately after it was suggested or requested.

I asked if someone could fix the broken window, and no sooner said than done — the repairman arrived within an hour.

"Could you prepare a summary?" "No sooner said than done — here it is."

be/get done for something/for doing something

idiom

To be caught and punished for doing something illegal but not very serious.

Mia got done for shoplifting at the mall last weekend.

If you park here, you might get done for blocking the driveway.

be the done thing

idiom

To be the socially acceptable way to behave in a particular situation.

In Japan, bowing is the done thing when greeting someone.

At formal dinners, it's the done thing to wait for the host to start eating.

be/have done with something

idiom

To have finished dealing with someone or using something.

Are you done with the scissors? I need them for my project.

Once I'm done with this report, I'll help you clean the kitchen.

be easier said than done

idiom

To be much more difficult to actually do than to talk about.

Losing weight is easier said than done, especially with holiday treats around.

Finding a job in this economy is easier said than done, as Tom learned.

be/feel hard done by

idiom

To feel that you have been treated unfairly.

Sara felt hard done by when her brother got a bigger piece of cake.

After the team lost, the players felt hard done by the referee's decisions.

done and dusted

idiom

Completely finished or finalized.

Our holiday plans are done and dusted; we leave next Monday.

The exam is done and dusted, so let's celebrate tonight.

a done deal

idiom

An agreement or plan that has been finally completed and cannot be changed.

The sale of the house is a done deal; we signed the papers yesterday.

The merger is not a done deal yet; there are still details to negotiate.

have done with it

idiom

To do something unpleasant quickly so that it is finished.

Just apologize and have done with it; you'll feel better.

Let's pay the fine and have done with it, so we can move on.

Word family

do
verbA1
does
verbA1
doing
verbA1
did
verbA1
doer
nounB2
overdo
verbB2
undo
verbB1
doable
adjectiveB2
overdone
adjectiveB2
underdone
adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that has reached its end, but they differ in scope and formality. "Done" is the most informal and versatile; it works for everyday tasks ("the laundry is done"), projects, and even food. "Finished" is slightly more formal and can appear before a noun ("a finished product"), whereas "done" in this sense cannot. "Completed" is the most formal and suggests that every required step was carried out to a standard — it is natural on official forms and project reports but sounds stiff in casual conversation. "Over" applies only to events or time periods ("the movie is over"), not to objects or tasks. For example, you can say "the meeting is over" or "the meeting is done" but not "the meeting is completed" in everyday speech. Choose "done" for informal settings, "finished" for neutral contexts, "completed" for formal tracking, and "over" for events.

done ↗finished ↗completedover ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

done and dusted
done and over with

Prepositions

with

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

"Done" traces back to Old English "gedōn," the past participle of "dōn" (to do). The prefix "ge-" was used in Old English to form past participles; it was eventually dropped in Middle English, leaving "don" as both the infinitive and the participle. By the 14th century the form "doon" appeared, and the modern spelling "done" was established by the 1500s. The adjective senses — meaning "finished" and "cooked" — emerged from the participle's natural implication of completion and readiness.

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done

done — verb

1. the form of the verb 'do' that is used after 'have,' 'has,' or 'had' to show tha

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

done — adjective

1. in a state where something no longer needs attention, effort, or use because all

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. of food — ready to eat because it has been heated or prepared for the correct le

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. of a plan or agreement — already decided or confirmed, so there is no need for m

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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