don't

American  

[dohnt] / doʊnt /

verb

1. contraction of do not.

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

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noun

1. 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

1. do not

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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

And we’re the team where you don’t know who’s gonna have the 30 points, or this or that.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

Investors have uneasily adjusted to a new normal, where companies that used to be some of the world’s biggest and most reliable free cash-flow generators now don’t have a lot of cash to spare.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

So you don’t have to worry about getting cancer from your Teflon pan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

"With higher ages in school you might use them a little bit more, but with lower ages, or in school, I don't think we should use screens at all."

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“I don’t think I would have reconnected with Cat at all, and if I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have gotten the message my grandpa left for me. . . .”

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