Meaning & use
without ado
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UK/wɪˈðaʊt əˈduː/
US/wɪˈðaʊt əˈduː/
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseformal
without delay, fuss, or unnecessary preparation; immediately and simply
Grammar: Used as an adverbial phrase, often after a verb like 'begin' or 'proceed'.
Patterns
- proceed without ado
- begin without ado
- do something without ado
The ceremony began without ado.
He accepted the offer without ado.
She opened the meeting without ado and went straight to the main point.
Common combinations
- without further ado
- Without further ado, let me introduce our guest speaker.
- proceed without ado
- The committee proceeded without ado to the vote.
- begin without ado
- The concert began without ado.
Synonyms and how they differ
- immediately
- Focuses on time, while 'without ado' also suggests no fuss or extra steps.
- directly
- Can mean 'in a direct way' or 'without delay', but it is more neutral and less formal than 'without ado'.
Opposites
with much ado
Commonly confused: without ado or without further ado?
without ado vs without further ado
This is the more common fixed phrase. 'Without ado' alone is correct but less frequent.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'without ado' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Without ado' is a fixed phrase with no article. The other options add articles or plural forms that do not belong to the idiom.
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