don't

contraction

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\ ˈdōnt

Definition of don't

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : do not

2 : does not

don't

noun

Definition of don't (Entry 2 of 2)

: a command or entreaty not to do something a list of dos and don'ts

Usage of Don't More Example Sentences Learn More about don't

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Usage of Don't

Contraction

Don't is the earliest attested contraction of does not and until about 1900 was the standard spoken form in the U.S. (it survived as spoken standard longer in British English). Dialect surveys find it more common in the speech of the less educated than in that of the educated; in those places (such as the Midland and southern Atlantic seaboard regions) where it has lasted in educated speech, it is most common with older informants. Surveys of attitudes toward usage show it more widely disapproved in 1971 than it had been 40 years earlier. Its chief use in edited prose is in fiction for purposes of characterization. It is sometimes used consciously, like ain't, to gain an informal effect.

Examples of don't in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The goal instead was to get into the woods after the snow starts to melt and before tom turkeys gobble, a now-you-see-it-now-you-don't seasonal window that is otherwise easy to miss. — Star Tribune, "Anderson: DIY maple-syrup producers up their game," 26 Mar. 2021 Distracting movements—don't rub your face, play with your hair, etc. — Sara Steever, Forbes, "Four Keys To Better Videoconferencing," 19 Mar. 2021 Pieces of a Puzzle: There's a reason stocks, bonds—and all asset classes really—don't move in a straight line. — Jj Kinahan, Forbes, "Bonds Hold The Key: Wall Street Feels Calmer After Harrowing Thursday, With Yields Stepping Back," 26 Feb. 2021 Better yet, makeup products or ingredients—such as silicone—don't compromise the blender's biodegradability. — Madge Maril, Harper's BAZAAR, "The First Biodegradable Makeup Sponge Is Here," 9 Feb. 2021 The Nimitz- and Ford-class carriers, Wasp- and America-class amphibious assault ships, and Japanese Izumo-class carriers don't—or won't—use ski ramps. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Hmm, South Korea’s First Aircraft Carrier Looks Awfully Familiar," 6 Jan. 2021 And that means that low levels of renewable power—less than 10 percent of the power on grid—don't incur much in the way of costs, since the grid is already prepared to handle levels of fluctuation. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "As renewable power prices drop, researchers tally up their added costs," 3 Nov. 2020 Smith used his legs to give himself extra time and then picked apart Patricia’s soft, bend-but-don't break zone. — Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press, "Matt Prater's bomb keeps Matt Patricia's Detroit Lions tenure alive another day," 15 Nov. 2020 Indeed, most people who test positive—one study in Hong Kong put the number at 69 percent—don't spread the disease at all. — Christopher Cox, Wired, "The Vulnerable Can Wait. Vaccinate the Super-Spreaders First," 10 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'don't.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.