don't: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1 (Super High Frequency)Universal - appears in all registers from highly informal to formal, though the uncontracted 'do not' is preferred in very formal writing.
Quick answer
What does “don't” mean?
Contraction of 'do not'. Used to form negative statements and commands in the present tense for most subjects.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Contraction of 'do not'. Used to form negative statements and commands in the present tense for most subjects.
A fixed negative auxiliary used for negation, prohibition, advice, and denial. It can also function as a standalone interjection expressing disagreement or refusal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. Some regional dialects (e.g., Scottish, some Northern English) may occasionally use 'dinna' or other forms, but 'don't' is standard. In AAVE (American English), the invariant 'don't' (He don't know) has different grammatical rules.
Connotations
Standard 'don't' is neutral. The invariant 'don't' in non-standard dialects often carries sociolinguistic connotations.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties. The contraction is slightly more prevalent in spoken American English.
Grammar
How to Use “don't” in a Sentence
[don't] + [base form verb] (Don't go)[Subject] + [don't] + [base form verb] (I don't understand)[Imperative], [don't] + [you]? (Open the door, don't you?)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “don't” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I don't fancy going out tonight.
- Don't you have the report?
American English
- I don't have a dime.
- Don't you want some coffee?
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in policies and advisories: 'Don't share your password.'
Academic
Less common in formal prose; 'do not' is preferred. Common in spoken instruction.
Everyday
Ubiquitous in conversation for negatives and prohibitions.
Technical
Used in user instructions and warnings: 'Don't unplug during update.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “don't”
- *He don't like it (for 3rd person singular; correct: doesn't).
- Using 'don't' with 'to' infinitive (*I don't to go).
- Spelling as 'dont' (missing apostrophe).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Don't' is acceptable in most written and all spoken contexts. For extremely formal writing (e.g., legal documents, official proclamations), the uncontracted 'do not' is often preferred.
In standard English, the third person singular (he, she, it) requires the auxiliary 'does' for present tense negation. The correct form is 'he doesn't' or 'he does not'.
Yes, frequently. It is the standard way to form a negative imperative (command): 'Don't touch that.' It can also start questions: 'Don't you agree?'
'Don't' is used with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. 'Doesn't' is used with he, she, it, and singular nouns. This is the subject-verb agreement rule for the auxiliary 'do'.
Contraction of 'do not'. Used to form negative statements and commands in the present tense for most subjects.
Don't: in British English it is pronounced /dəʊnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /doʊnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't mention it.”
- “Don't hold your breath.”
- “Don't count your chickens.”
- “If it ain't broke, don't fix it.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DON'T = DO + NOT squished together. Think of the apostrophe as squeezing the 'o' out of 'not'.
Conceptual Metaphor
NEGATION IS A BARRIER/BLOCK (Don't creates a conceptual block against the action of the verb.)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the grammatically correct full form of 'don't' for the sentence: 'He don't care.'?