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.

"And so I think a healthy discussion is necessary, but I don't think simply saying this one thing caused it," he told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

But don't count out the big players and their state-of-the-art models just yet.

From Barron's • May 31, 2026

Most said they don’t expect dramatic cuts to AI spending, given that many CEOs still have a mandate from Wall Street to show off how AI-forward their organizations are.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

Because I don’t have as much control in my current role to solve for all of those national issues.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

“I’m not an artist. Not like that, anyway. And I don’t know Levi.”

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