without 1 of 3

preposition

wi-ˈt͟hau̇t How to pronounce without (audio)
Definition of withoutnext
1
as in wanting
not having spent two days without food

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in beyond
out of the reach or sphere of a goal without our grasp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

without

2 of 3

adverb

as in outside

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

without

3 of 3

noun

as in sticks

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of without
Preposition
The payoff is a system that can handle more energy without straining the rest of the time. — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 But America’s startups cannot protect our economic or national security without strong IP rights. — Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 In other words, someone who spent $1,000 on what seemed like an outrageous baseball souvenir more than a decade ago could now have the opportunity to bring the whole family to the World Series without paying today's eye-popping resale prices. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 Most notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not participate, meaning the leaders of the three major powers would be discussing the future of a country without its president. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for without
Recent Examples of Synonyms for without
  1. beyond
  2. outside
  3. country
  4. out
  5. outdoors
Preposition
  • But beyond just the legal battles and headlines, speakers on Sunday also focused on the more personal impact for people one year later.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Yet by the time their reputation had carried beyond the M6, both men had moved on.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of beyond
Adverb
  • Prosecutors alleged that Zhang flew from California to Las Vegas and then to the Seattle area to conduct surveillance of the unidentified son and his home from outside.
    — David Douglas, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Residents who lived in separate apartments in the house stood outside, according to the Culpeper Police Department.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of outside
Noun
  • The 20 countries at greatest risk of a worsening humanitarian crisis, ranked by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) annually in our Emergency Watchlist, represent just 12% of the global population, but 90% of those in humanitarian need.
    — David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Many other countries and even continents would kill to have this level of ingenuity on their shores.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of country
Adverb
  • Thanks to their actions, their teacher survived, and is one of approximately 350,000 Americans who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year.
    — Meng Yang, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The other 20 developers, out there, this would open gate over here.
    — Annette Beard, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of out
Adverb
  • Visitors to Living can enjoy an authentic Milanese aperitivo, either indoors in the elegant atmosphere of the lounge, or outdoors, on the lush terrace overlooking the charming Piazzetta Bossi.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • There is flower-arrangement inspiration for all seasons, ways of bringing the wild outdoors in.
    — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of outdoors

Phrases Containing without

Browse Nearby Words

with might and main
without
without ado
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Without.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/without. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of puissant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All