to-do

[ tuh-doo ]

noun

, Informal.

, plural to-dos.

1. bustle; fuss:

   They made a great to-do over the dinner.

to-do

/ təˈduː /

noun

1. a commotion, fuss, or quarrel

Word History and Origins

Origin of to-do¹

before 900; Middle English, Old English; noun use of infinitive phrase; to, do ¹, ado

Synonym Study

See ado.

Example Sentences

First on the to-do list, the profiling exercises to help the Western masses understand the nature of the wretched beast.

From The Daily Beast

You never see a boxer come out of a well-to-do family because they have nothing to fight for.

From The Daily Beast

Most of us are busy enough without adding yet another item to our to-do lists each day.

From The Daily Beast

She reportedly told police that she had 200 well-to-do customers.

From The Daily Beast

She works as a maid, scrubbing floors and toilets of the well-to-do families in West Hartford, Connecticut.

From The Daily Beast

With time this land had mounted to great values and the holders had been made well-to-do thereby.

From Project Gutenberg

His parents were of the well-to-do farming class, occupied from one year's end to the other with the work of the fields.

From Project Gutenberg

“But it certainly was a great to-do,” murmured Jessie, as she tried to see what the boys were doing.

From Project Gutenberg

Widder Morse wants to ape these well-to-do folks that live tother end o Whiffle Street.

From Project Gutenberg

A relative of the Virlaz family, well-to-do Jewish furriers of Leipsic.

From Project Gutenberg