do without

phrasal verb

did without; done without; doing without; does without

: to not have (something) : to live, work, etc., without having (something)

If you can't afford a new car, you'll just have to do without (one).

I don't know how we ever did without computers.

—can/could do without is often used to say that one does not like or approve of something

I enjoy traveling, but I can do without having to wait around in crowded airports.

He was late again. That's the kind of selfish behavior I could do without.

Examples of do without in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The act, done without consulting the other three members, caused a public outcry and forced the new majority to backtrack and agree to a five-of-seven super-majority for key decisions, and a rotating presidency among them. —

Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 May 2024 Prosecutors argued this was done without Garmashov’s permission and was meant to mislead the students. —

Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 24 May 2024 Krasinski says Groover, who portrayed Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway, was a complete pro who knew what to do without any instruction. —

Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 24 May 2024 John Mejia, an Alameda gig worker in his late 60s who has driven for Uber and Lyft for nine years, said contractor status means doing without safeguards given to virtually every other worker in California. —

Calmatters, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024 This can be done without financial stringencies by redirecting a fraction of the trillions of dollars spent on the military-industrial-security state. —

Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 12 May 2024 Even though the circumcision is done without any painkillers. —

Nurith Aizenman, NPR, 12 May 2024 The town hosts several popular seasonal events to punctuate its serenity, offering plenty to do without the hustle and bustle of an urban environment. —

Bang Advertising Staff and Correspondents, The Mercury News, 7 May 2024 May 8, 2024 Live Nation could have done without the public relations black eye of the $25 concert promotion. —

Chris Morris, Fortune, 8 May 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'do without.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.