adv · conj · prep · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/wɪðˈaʊt/
Received-Pronunciation:/wɪθˈaʊt/
US:/wɪθˈaʊt/
US:/wɪðˈaʊt/
US:/wɪˈθaʊt/
US:/wɪˈðaʊt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada:[wɪθˈɐʊ̯t]
Canada:[wɪðˈɐʊ̯t]
Canada:[-əu̯t]
Canada:[-ʌʊ̯t]
Canada:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Ontario, Southern:[wɪθˈɛʊ̯t]
[wɪɾ̥ˈəu̯t]Ottawa Valley
rhymes with -aʊt
CMU ARPABET:W IH0 TH AW1 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:W IH0 DH AW1 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
Outside, externally.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, literary, not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Lacking something; failing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
Being from a large, poor family, he learned to live without.
We've run out of bread; you'll have to do without until I can get to the bakeshop.
Whose can be used with a following noun or without.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
Without a condom being worn.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: euphemistic, not-comparable
Topics: lifestyle, prostitution, sexuality
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
conj
Meaning 4
Unless, except (introducing a clause).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, dialectal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
prep
Meaning 5
Outside of, beyond.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, literary
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: within
6
prep
Meaning 6
Not having, containing, characteristic of, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
It was a mistake to leave my house without a coat.
I was without formal education but was well read and articulate.
1967, Paul McCartney (writer), The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Life goes on within you and without you.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: with
7
prep
Meaning 7
Not doing or not having done something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He likes to eat everything without sharing.
He shot without warning anyone.
Without noticing it I grew old.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English withoute, withouten, from Old English wiþūtan (literally “against the outside of”). By surface analysis, with- + out. Compare Dutch buiten (“outside of, without”), Danish uden (“without”), Swedish utan (“without”), Norwegian uten (“without”). Superseded non-native Middle English sauns, sans (“without”), from Old French sans, sanz, senz (“without”). Compare typologically Proto-Slavic *bez (“without”) (<+ Proto-Indo-European *h1éǵhs (“out”)).
Across languages
Translations
203 source translations are retained for this English entry.