dido

1 of 2

noun (1)

di·​do ˈdī-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce dido (audio)
plural didoes or didos
Synonyms of dido
1
: a mischievous or capricious act : prank, antic
—often used in the phrase cut didoes
2
: something that is frivolous or showy

Dido

2 of 2

noun (2)

Di·​do ˈdī-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce Dido (audio)
: a legendary queen of Carthage in Virgil's Aeneid who kills herself when Aeneas leaves her

Synonyms of dido

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Noun (1)

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Examples of dido in a Sentence

Noun (1) known for cutting didoes at the holiday party held each year at the office

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Noun (2)

Latin, from Greek Didō

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dido was in the 14th century

Rhymes for dido

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Browse Nearby Words

didna
dido
Dido
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Cite this Entry

“Dido.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dido. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dido

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dido

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