adj
Uncommon
DIY
dee-eye-WEYE
DIY (adj) means Made or done by yourself, without hiring a professional. Example: “They tackled the kitchen renovation as a DIY project over the summer.”
adj
1
Made or done by yourself, without hiring a professional.
"They tackled the kitchen renovation as a DIY project over the summer."
verb
1
To do a task yourself that would normally be done by a hired professional.
"He decided to DIY the bathroom tiling to save money."
How to use DIY
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDoing a job — often home improvement — yourself instead of paying someone else to do it.
Common pairings
DIY project
DIY store
a bit of DIY
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- DIYs
- Past tense
- DIYed
- Comparative
- more DIY
- Superlative
- most DIY
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They tackled the kitchen renovation as a _____ project over the summer.
Etymology
An initialism of "do it yourself".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “DIY” mean?
The word “DIY” means made or done by yourself, without hiring a professional. In plain terms, doing a job — often home improvement — yourself instead of paying someone else to do it.
How do you pronounce “DIY”?
“DIY” is pronounced dee-eye-WEYE (/ˌdi.aɪˈwaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “DIY” in a sentence?
Here is “DIY” used in a sentence: “They tackled the kitchen renovation as a DIY project over the summer.”
What part of speech is “DIY”?
Depending on how it is used, “DIY” can be an adjective and a verb.
Is “DIY” a common word?
“DIY” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “DIY” have?
“DIY” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: made or done by yourself, without hiring a professional.
What does the abbreviation DIY stand for, and is it always written in capital letters?
DIY refers to something made or done by yourself without hiring a professional. It is conventionally written in all capital letters as an abbreviation, though it appears in everyday informal writing, such as "a DIY project."
What is the difference between a DIY project and hiring a contractor?
A DIY project is done by the homeowner or individual themselves, without professional help, while hiring a contractor means paying a trained professional to complete the task. DIY can save money but shifts the skill, time, and risk of the work onto the person doing it.
Can "DIY" be used as a verb as well as an adjective?
Yes. As an adjective, DIY describes something made or done by yourself, as in "a DIY shelf." It also functions as a verb meaning to do a task yourself that would normally be handled by a hired professional, as in "to DIY a renovation."
Is DIY formal or informal language?
DIY is informal and conversational, commonly used in everyday speech, advertising, and home-improvement media rather than in formal or technical writing.
