without

American  

[with-out, with-] / wɪðˈaʊt, wɪθ- /

preposition

1. with the absence, omission, or avoidance of; not with; with no or none of; lacking.

   without help; without shoes; without her helping me; without him to help.

2. free from; excluding.

   a world without hunger.

3. not accompanied by.

   Don't go without me.

4. at, on, or to the outside of; outside of.

   both within and without the house or the city.

5. beyond the compass, limits, range, or scope of (now used chiefly in opposition towithin ).

   whether within or without the law.

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adverb

1. in or into an exterior or outer place; outside.

2. outside a house, building, etc..

   The carriage awaits without.

3. lacking something implied or understood.

   We must take this or go without.

4. as regards the outside; externally.

noun

1. the outside of a place, region, area, room, etc.

conjunction

1. Midland and Southern U.S. unless.

without British  

/ wɪˈðaʊt /

preposition

1. not having

   a traveller without much money

2. not accompanied by

   he came without his wife

3. not making use of

   it is not easy to undo screws without a screwdriver

4. (foll by a verbal noun or noun phrase) not, while not, or after not

   she can sing for two minutes without drawing breath

5. archaic on the outside of

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adverb

1. formal outside; outwardly

conjunction

1. not_standard unless

   don't come without you have some money

without Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing without

• absent without leave
• do without
• get along without
• go without saying
• no smoke without fire

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Etymology

Origin of without

First recorded before 900; Middle English withouten, Old English withūtan (adverb and preposition); equivalent to with + out

Example Sentences

Despite recent oil price drops, bond yields remain elevated, posing a challenge for the Fed to tame inflation without slowing growth.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

In the 1940s, University of Chicago economist Frank H. Knight devised a thought experiment called the Crusonia plant: a miraculous organism that, once planted, yields fruit year after year without any effort.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

We need to solve our own issues without the interference of the U.S. government.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

"We trusted a man without a conscience, and my son paid the price," she wrote.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

“You’re not eligible for a scholarship without an offer of admission.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam