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.

See Examples For:

don't

“I don’t wait for the Russell 2000. I want to provide good returns at any time,” Aaron Monroe, the fund’s portfolio manager, said during an interview with MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

Quite frankly, we have a lot that don’t meet that hurdle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

Bernstein examines how easy it is to be swept away by an environment where consequences don’t seem real.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

"Change is going to happen, but I don't think things will get any better," Elizabeth Pilot, a 34-year-old cook, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

“Most don’t have the courage to hold what’s theirs. Remember that.”

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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