without
/wɪˈðaʊt/ (bre, ipa) · /wɪˈðaʊt/ (ame, ipa) · /wi-ˈt͟hau̇t -ˈthau̇t/ (ame, mw)
without — preposition
1. used to say that a person does not have something, is not using something, or th
used to say that a person does not have something, is not using something, or that something is not present or available.
Gabriel went to the train station without his wallet and could not buy a ticket.
without + possessive noun
Iris made a fresh salad without adding any salt or dressing.
without + -ing form
The children watched the whole movie without making a single sound.
Femi drove across the city without a map and still found the restaurant.
The old house stood on the hill without any electricity or running water.
- lacking
more formal; used for qualities or features rather than physical objects ('lacking confidence')
- in the absence of
formal; used in official or academic contexts ('in the absence of evidence')
- minus
informal; often used for numbers, costs, or tangible items ('The total, minus tax, is £40')
- with
the direct opposite; indicates presence or accompaniment
文法句型
without + noun
without + -ing form
without + pronoun
用法筆記
This is by far the most common use of 'without'. It can be followed by a noun (without help), a pronoun (without it), or the -ing form of a verb (without waiting). The -ing form is the only verb form allowed directly after 'without' — never a base verb or past tense.
常見錯誤
without — adverb
1. used after a verb such as 'do', 'go', or 'manage' to say that a person accepts n
used after a verb such as 'do', 'go', or 'manage' to say that a person accepts not having something they would normally expect or need.
The shop had run out of milk, so Feng had to have his coffee without.
verb + without (no object)
The library did not have enough computers for everyone, so some students had to do without.
phrasal pattern: do without
Reema forgot her phone charger at the hotel and had to manage without for the whole trip.
During the war, many families had to go without for weeks at a time.
Beatriz did not have a microwave in her new flat but quickly learned to live without.
文法句型
verb + without
go without
do without
manage without
live without
用法筆記
This adverbial use always appears at the end of a clause, and no object follows it — the missing item is clear from context. Common verbs used before it include 'do', 'go', 'manage', and 'live'. Unlike the preposition, it does not take a noun or gerund after it.
without — conjunction
1. used in formal or literary English with the same meaning as 'unless', to say tha
used in formal or literary English with the same meaning as 'unless', to say that one situation can happen only if another situation does not happen first.
Without the manager approves the budget first, the project cannot move forward.
formal: without + subject + verb
Without we receive a written application by Friday, your name will not be added to the list.
The ancient treaty stated that no army may cross the river without the king gives his permission.
Without the evidence is reviewed by a second expert, the court cannot reach a decision.
The rescue team warned that without the weather improves within hours, the mission would be too dangerous.
- unless
the modern and far more common equivalent; use this in everyday speech and writing
文法句型
without + subject + verb (present tense)
用法筆記
This construction is rare in modern everyday English, where 'unless' is almost always preferred. When 'without' is used as a conjunction, it typically appears in formal writing, legal documents, older literature, or deliberately elevated speech. The verb that follows is in the present tense.
常見錯誤
without — noun
1. a formal or literary word for the area that lies outside a building, city, or en
a formal or literary word for the area that lies outside a building, city, or enclosed space, especially when contrasted with what is inside.
The castle's thick stone walls kept the dangers of the without at a distance.
the without (noun, rare usage)
From the without, Rafael stared through the frosted window at the warm glow of the fire inside.
contrasted with 'inside'
From the without came the howling of wolves and the rustling of dry leaves.
Élise found the architecture beautiful from the without but poorly planned inside.
The garden was enclosed by a high hedge, creating a peaceful world shut off from the noisy without.
- the outside
the natural modern equivalent; used in all registers
- the exterior
slightly more formal; often used for buildings or vehicles
- the within
the contrasting literary term for the interior or inside area
文法句型
the without
用法筆記
This noun use is very rare in modern English. It is almost exclusively found in literary, philosophical, or formal writing from earlier periods. In everyday speech, 'the outside' or 'the exterior' is used instead. It is always preceded by 'the'.