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

Please tell me what to do or say that will get the job done without unnecessarily embarrassing or offending this person. —Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026

Now those colleges are working to find ways to replace or do without the money, which covered research grants, laboratory equipment, curricular materials and student support programs — benefits that extended to all students. —Olivia Sanchez, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026

All of this was done without approval from the league's board. —Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026

As with other times of struggle, as with other times when basic needs are made difficult or impossible to meet for some, good parents do without so their children won’t have to. —Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for do without

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout