ENGLISH
REFERENCE

do without

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to manage or live your life without something that you usually have or need.

phr. v.. to manage to survive or function in the absence of a specific resource or person; often used in contexts of necessity or forced austerity.


SIMPLE

We will have to do without sugar for a few days.

CONTEXTUAL

If the bus doesn't come soon, I'll just have to do without a coffee this morning.

COMPLEX

The expedition was forced to do without their primary communication equipment after the storm damaged the satellite uplink.

Particles
without
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
do + without + object
Usage

usually followed by a noun or a gerund representing the missing item or activity.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'go without', which is very similar but often implies a more serious or physical lack, whereas 'do without' focuses on the ability to manage the situation.

Pitfall

I can't do without of my phone.I can't do without my phone.'without' is a preposition here, so adding 'of' after it is grammatically incorrect.

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