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.

"Without TRPV4, the mice don't feel this feedback, so they continue scratching much longer than normal."

From Science Daily • May 10, 2026

Steven, who got in touch via BBC Your Voice, likes to shop at Aldi, Farm Foods and Iceland, which don't have loyalty cards but which he feels offer better savings.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

"There are worries there could be a danger, but honestly I don't see people being very concerned," said David Parada, a lottery vendor.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

“I feel really good and I wanted this start. As far as how it came together, I don’t know how I feel about that.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026

You don’t want to assume, but your own cramps ramp up.

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