don't

1 of 2

contraction

1
: do not
2
: does not
Usage of Don't

Don't is the earliest attested contraction of does not and until about 1900 was the standard spoken form in the U.S. (it survived as spoken standard longer in British English). Dialect surveys find it more common in the speech of the less educated than in that of the educated; in those places (such as the Midland and southern Atlantic seaboard regions) where it has lasted in educated speech, it is most common with older informants. Surveys of attitudes toward usage show it more widely disapproved in 1971 than it had been 40 years earlier. Its chief use in edited prose is in fiction for purposes of characterization. It is sometimes used consciously, like ain't, to gain an informal effect.

don't

2 of 2

noun

: a command or entreaty not to do something
a list of dos and don'ts

Examples of don't in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The digital wedding planning platform reveals some dos and don'ts for ensuring an enjoyable experience for all Destination weddings have become an increasingly popular choice for couples looking to bring a vacation vibe to their nuptials. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2024 Seasoned lensman Stanley Babb, who shot Simone Biles' 2023 nuptials, gives his expert advice on wedding photography dos and don'ts When planning a wedding, couples often put a lot of focus into details like the food or the fashion. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 17 Jan. 2024 Here, Rallo chats with PEOPLE about her process and her dos and don'ts of dating, followed by an exclusive book excerpt. Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023 Après-ski Dos and Don'ts Like any culture, après-ski has its own list of dos and don'ts. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023 The act amounts to a list of do's and don'ts that seeks to prevent tech giants from cornering digital markets, with the threat of whopping fines or even forcing Big Tech companies to sell of parts of their business to operate in Europe. Kelvin Chan, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2023 Check out our list of dos and don'ts for displaying the American flag indoors, outside, or on your vehicle. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023 Another good technique is to focus on do's rather than don'ts. Cynthia Hanson, Parents, 16 June 2023 Videos of creators sharing their do's and don'ts of travel etiquette continue to go viral on the platform, with many users getting into heated discussions in the comments section. Uwa Ede-Osifo, NBC News, 2 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'don't.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Contraction

1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of don't was in 1639

Dictionary Entries Near don't

Cite this Entry

“Don't.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/don%27t. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

don't

(ˈ)dōnt
: do not

More from Merriam-Webster on don't

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!