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.

The bread itself naturally softens and rounds everything out, so you don’t need an alarming amount to make it feel indulgent.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

“They don’t even fight as much” on value-added services, he said.

From MarketWatch • May 25, 2026

I don’t know why all men don’t wear skirts.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

"They will not be influenced. They don't show fear or favour. It's solely based on the evidence."

From BBC • May 25, 2026

My eyes want to pop wide open over the fact that Hot Lifeguard is, I’m pretty sure, asking me out, but I don’t let them.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

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