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without

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adverb, preposition British English pronunciation: without /wɪðˈaʊt/
Without can be used in the following ways:
as a preposition (followed by a noun): I can't see without my glasses. (followed by the '-ing' form of a verb): She walked past without saying anything.
as an adverb (without a following noun): There isn't any butter left, so we'll have to manage without.
 
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    used for saying what someone or something does not have

    the ability to do mathematics without a calculator

    They had endured three days without food or water.

    a dress without sleeves

    do/manage/go without (=continue your life or work in spite of not having something):

    I can't afford new trainers, so I'll have to do without.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of without
  2. 2
    used for saying that you do not have someone with you

    I can't live without you – I want to marry you.

    If the others don't want to come, we'll go without them.

  3. 3
    not doing something or not happening
    1. a.
      used for saying what you do not do when you do something else

      Normally I would accept your offer without hesitation.

      without doing something:

      Liz closed the door without making a sound.

      without so much as (=not even doing something that is normally expected):

      He walked off and left me without so much as a backward glance.

    2. b.
      used for saying what does not happen or has not happened when something else happens

      The operation proceeded without any major problems.

      an attack that came without any warning

      without someone doing something:

      Could these men have walked out of the prison without anyone noticing?

  4. 4
    used for saying that you do not have a particular feeling, or you do not show a particular quality when you do something

    We began our search, but without much hope of finding anything.

    Stephens was fined £200 for driving without due care and attention.

phrase

This is the British English definition of without. View American English definition of without.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for without.

 

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