Does and does are two words that are spelled identically but are pronounced differently and have different meanings, which makes them heteronyms. We will examine the definitions of the words does and does, where these words came from, and a few examples of their use in sentences.
Does (duz) is the third-person singular form of the verb do and means to perform an action, to make something happen, to bring about a conclusion. Does is derived from the words doth and doeth.
Does (doze) is the plural form of the word doe, which is an adult female deer, rabbit, kangaroo, etc. The word doe is derived from the Old English word da.
Examples
Robert Gehrke: What does 2020 hold for Trump, McAdams and Utah’s next governor? Join me as I peer into the mists. (The Salt Lake Tribune)
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he does not want, or foresee, war with Iran, after he earlier threatened to retaliate against the country following violent protests led by Iranian-backed militias at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. (Reuters)
While does and bucks still breed in mid-November as they always have, they tend to move less in daylight and more during cooler nights. (Outdoor Life Magazine)
“But all the while, the does kept a steady course feeding toward me—and finally, he came chasing one of them just into range, stopped for a second, and I got him.” (Field & Stream Magazine)