do one's darnedest

verb

To do one's utmost; to make every effort or to try every possible approach or way.

“I don't think he'll succeed, but he's doing his darnedest to build a working spaceship.”

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Meanings

verbdo one's darnedest (third-person singular simple present does one's darnedest, present participle doing one's darnedest, simple past did one's darnedest, past participle done one's darnedest)

present singular third person does one's darnedest · participle present doing one's darnedest · past did one's darnedest · participle past done one's darnedest

  1. euphemisticidiomaticTo do one's utmost; to make every effort or to try every possible approach or way.

    I don't think he'll succeed, but he's doing his darnedest to build a working spaceship.

Cite this entry
APA

do one's darnedest. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/do%20one's%20darnedest

MLA

“do one's darnedest.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/do%20one's%20darnedest. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “do one's darnedest,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/do%20one's%20darnedest.

Source: do one's darnedest on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.