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do without. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
do without, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
do without in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
do without you have here. The definition of the word
do without will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
do without, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Verb
do without (third-person singular simple present does without, present participle doing without, simple past did without, past participle done without)
- (chiefly transitive) To manage despite the lack of.
If you are prepared to do without a break in the summer, we could have a really good skiing holiday in winter.
During the Great Depression, she learned to do without.
I could do without the sarcasm.
1916 March 11, H.G. Wells, “What is Coming”, in Saturday Evening Post:Let us consider the charges against this individual. Let us ask, Can we do without him?
1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, London: Heinemann, →OCLC, page 23:He liked Tom all right... Sampson and Bullock he could do without, however. Especially Sampson, who was too much of a grammar-school-type swot ever to be quite the thing.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see do, without.
Usage notes
Often used subjunctively with could, be able to, etc. as a litotes for to have no need whatsoever for, to dislike, etc.
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