do without

phrasal verb

did without; done without; doing without; does without

: to not have (something) : to live, work, etc., without having (something)

If you can't afford a new car, you'll just have to do without (one).

I don't know how we ever did without computers.

—can/could do without is often used to say that one does not like or approve of something

I enjoy traveling, but I can do without having to wait around in crowded airports.

He was late again. That's the kind of selfish behavior I could do without.

Examples of do without in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When the cutting chores call for trimming at varying heights for the bushes and shrubs in the landscape, a tool that extends your reach will help get the job done without dragging the ladder out of the garage. —Alice Knisley Matthias, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2025

That’s important, because thus far almost no one has found a use for AI bots or tools that can’t be done without them, and more cheaply. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2025

All the demos involved tasks that are currently easy to do without an AI agent — and even without AI. —Megan Morrone, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025

This was done without consent from the dead and, in many cases, without the knowledge of any of their survivors. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2025