do without

British  

verb

1. to forgo; manage without

   I can't do without cigarettes

2. not to require (uncalled-for comments or advice)

   we can do without your criticisms thank you

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do without Idioms  

1. Manage in spite of being without something. For example, They will just have to do without a vacation this year, or There was no telephone in the cabin, but we soon learned to do without. [Early 1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

do without

No banks equivalent to those that proliferated in 18th-century England existed in America, and many hoped a republic of yeomen farmers could do without them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Which is what dogs do without a second’s thought.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

In recent weeks, the stock market has had to make do without momentum from memory and other highflying chip stocks that had driven lofty first-half gains.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026

"It is an extremely precious thing, almost like gold, because what can you do without water?" he said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

“I’ll make something up. They can do without me,” her mom said.

From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Related Words

• endure
• forgo