without

The word "without" is a preposition in English that indicates absence, lack, or exclusion. It is commonly used to denote something that is not present or not included. For example, "she left without her coat" indicates the coat was absent when she left.

Grammatically, "without" is used to connect a noun or pronoun to another word in a sentence, showing the absence of the thing named. It can also function as an adverb in certain contexts, meaning "outside" or "outdoors," as in "they waited without."

Common expressions with "without" include "without a doubt," meaning certainly, and "without fail," meaning reliably or consistently. The phrase "do without" means to manage or survive without something that would normally be desired.

Etymologically, "without" comes from the Old English "wiðūtan," combining "wið" (against, opposite) and "ūtan" (outside). Its usage has remained relatively consistent throughout the history of the English language.

The word "without" has antonyms such as "with" and "within," which indicate presence and inclusion rather than absence.