do without
manage or live without something you would normally have
What does "do without sth" mean?
Examples
- We can't do without the internet these days — everything is online.
- During the power cut, we had to do without heating for three days.
- There's no coffee left, so we'll just have to do without.
How to use it
This is the most common pattern, used to express that someone is very dependent on something and would struggle to function without it.
She couldn't do without her morning coffee — it's the first thing she does every day.
Used to describe a situation where someone was forced to manage without something, often because it wasn't available.
When the broadband went down, the whole office had to do without the internet for two days.
The basic pattern, used to state that someone manages or survives in the absence of something.
Many families in the area learned to do without a car by using public transport.
When the missing item has already been mentioned, a pronoun is used — it always follows 'without', never between 'do' and 'without'.
We've run out of milk, but we'll just have to do without it tonight.
The object can be dropped entirely when it's already clear from context what's missing — this is especially common in spoken English.
There's no spare charger. — Looks like I'll have to do without.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
This phrasal verb cannot be separated — the object must always come after 'without', not between 'do' and 'without'. This applies to pronouns too.
'Do away with' means to abolish or get rid of something entirely, while 'do without' means to manage in the absence of something you don't have. These are very different meanings and are not interchangeable.
'Go without' tends to emphasise hardship or deprivation, while 'do without' focuses on the ability to manage or function in something's absence. Choose based on the tone you want — suffering vs. coping.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written English. Note that 'I could do without [something]' can also mean you find something annoying or unwanted (e.g. 'I could do without all this noise'), which is slightly different from the core meaning of managing in the absence of something.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'do without' be used without naming the thing you're missing?
Yes — when the missing item is already clear from the conversation, you can drop the object completely. For example: 'There's no hot water.' — 'We'll have to do without.' This is very natural in spoken English.
Does 'do without' always mean you manage successfully, or can it imply struggle?
The tone is usually neutral — it simply means to function or cope in the absence of something, without implying either success or suffering. If you want to emphasise real hardship or deprivation, 'go without' is a better choice.
What does 'I could do without' mean? Is it the same as 'do without'?
Not quite. 'I could do without [something annoying]' — for example, 'I could do without all this noise' — is a common idiom meaning you'd prefer not to have to deal with something. This is slightly different from the core meaning, which is about managing in the absence of something you need or rely on.
Can I use 'do without' in the present continuous — like 'I am doing without'?
It's grammatically possible but sounds awkward and is rarely used. More natural choices are simple forms or modals: 'I do without', 'I can do without', or 'I had to do without'. Stick to these patterns to sound natural.
What kinds of things can follow 'do without'?
Typically things that people depend on or regularly use — such as sleep, money, electricity, a car, the internet, heating, or support. Basically any resource, convenience, or necessity that someone might need to manage without.
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