Synonyms

don't

American

[dohnt] / doʊnt /

verb

contraction of do not.
Nonstandard except in some dialects. contraction of does not.

noun

don'ts, customs, rules, or regulations that forbid something.

The boss has a long list of don'ts that you had better observe if you want a promotion.

don't British

/ dəʊnt /

contraction

do not

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of don't

First recorded in 1600–10

Compare meaning

How does dont compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

don't vs. doesn't

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I was just like, “Well, if I don’t say it, what are they going to do?”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

They don’t have what it takes, and they never did!

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

"And when it comes down to it, dogs don't care if what they are seeing is AI."

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

“We don’t truly know what the future holds for transits through the Strait of Hormuz or, for that matter, for the recovery of regional air traffic.”

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

“Hope so. I don’t want to let anyone down. Especially not Willa.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023