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Synonyms

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

"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

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]


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.

See Examples For:

The startup has said it has a single goal: a “straight-shot” research sprint to what he dubbed “safe superintelligence”—industry speak for AI that can do whatever humans can do, without threatening humanity.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 27, 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

Like Tesla in Texas, Wayve also has more futuristic ambitions to do without the human driver altogether.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 28, 2026

And now we get on nicely, and are very glad he came, for he speaks French like a native, and I don’t know what we should do without him.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

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