without

withoutpreposition

American /wɪˈðaʊt/ British /wɪˈðaʊt/ also /wɪˈθaʊt/ also said with the th of thin The stress is on the second part: with-OUT.

very commondefining vocabulary

Without shows that something or someone is not there, not used, or not done.

not havingnot having, using, or including something or someone
- I can't see without my glasses.
- She drinks her coffee without sugar.
- We had to manage without a car.
- They left without me.
Collocations
phrase without doubt, without warning, without fail, without difficulty
verb + preposition do without, go without, manage without, live without
Synonyms minus
Antonyms with
Compare with
not doingnot doing a particular thing
Followed by an -ing form: without saying, without looking. The action in the -ing form is one that might be expected but does not happen.
- He left without saying goodbye.
- She answered without looking up.
- Don't cross the road without checking for cars.
For translators (sense 2)
Grammar trap Many languages use an infinitive or a clause after the word for without. English uses the -ing form: without asking.
if not forif someone or something did not exist or had not happened
Often used with would or could in the other part of the sentence, to say what would be true or would have happened.
- Without your help, we could never have finished.
- Without water, plants die.
- Life would be boring without friends.

Without is followed by a noun, a pronoun, or an -ing form, never directly by to and a verb: without asking.

He left without to say goodbye. He left without saying goodbye.
After without, use the -ing form of a verb.

I went out without no coat. I went out without a coat.
Without already has a negative meaning, so it is not followed by no; use a or any.