without

A child eats ice cream without a spoon.

Definition

1. Preposition:

   • Not having or lacking: "without" indicates the absence or lack of something.
   • Not accompanied by: "without" means not in the company of someone or something.
   • Not using: "without" denotes the absence of a tool, method, or resource.

2. Adverb (archaic or formal):

   • Outside or externally: "without" can mean on the outside or in an external position.

3. Conjunction (archaic or formal):

   • Unless or except: "without" can be used to mean "unless" or "except when."

Usage Examples

• Preposition:

  • She left the house without her keys. (She did not have her keys with her.)
  • He completed the project without any help. (He finished the project lacking assistance.)
  • They traveled without a map. (They did not use a map during their journey.)

• Adverb (archaic):

  • The garden is beautiful within and without. (The garden is beautiful inside and outside.)

• Conjunction (archaic):

  • Without you agree, we cannot proceed. (Unless you agree, we cannot proceed.)

Advanced Usage

• "without fail": certainly or every time without exception.

  • She calls her mother every Sunday without fail. (She calls her mother every Sunday without missing.)

• "without a doubt": certainly; definitely.

  • This is without a doubt the best cake I've ever eaten. (This is definitely the best cake.)

• "without delay": immediately; without waiting.

  • Please respond to the email without delay. (Please respond immediately.)

Variants and Related Words

• Withoutness (noun, rare): the state of being without or lacking something.
  • The withoutness of resources made the task difficult. (The lack of resources made the task difficult.)

Synonyms

• Lacking: not having something needed or expected.
• Absent: not present or existing.
• Devoid of: completely without.

Antonyms

• With: having or accompanied by.
• Including: containing as part of the whole.

Related Idioms

• without a care in the world: completely free from worry or stress.

  • After finishing his exams, he walked home without a care in the world. (He was completely relaxed.)

• without so much as a word: without saying anything at all.

  • He left the room without so much as a word. (He left silently.)

• without rhyme or reason: without any logical explanation or purpose.

  • The rule was changed without rhyme or reason. (The change seemed arbitrary.)