View synonyms for but

but

[ buht; unstressed buht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

conjunction

on the contrary; yet:
My brother went, but I did not.
except; save:
She was so overcome with grief she could do nothing but weep.
unless; if not; except that (followed by a clause, often with that expressed):
Nothing would do but that I should come in.
without the circumstance that:
It never rains but it pours.
otherwise than:
There is no hope but by prayer.
that (used especially after doubt, deny, etc., with a negative):
I don't doubt but he will do it.
who not; that not:
No leaders worthy of the name ever existed but they were optimists.
(used as an intensifier to introduce an exclamatory expression):
But she's beautiful!
Informal. than:
It no sooner started raining but it stopped.

preposition

with the exception of; except; save:
No one replied but me.

adverb

only; just:
There is but one God.

noun

buts, reservations or objections:
You'll do as you're told, no buts about it.

but

[ buht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Scot.

the outer or front room of a house; the outer or front apartment in an apartment house.
the kitchen of a two-room dwelling, especially of a cottage.

but

[ buht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural (especially collectively) but, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) buts.

a variant of butt ⁵( def ).

but-

⁴

a combining form meaning “containing a group of four carbon atoms,” used in the formation of compound words:
butene.

but

/ bət; bʌt /

conjunction

contrary to expectation
he cut his knee but didn't cry
in contrast; on the contrary
I like opera but my husband doesn't
usually used after a negative other than
we can't do anything but wait

conjunction

usually used after a negative without it happening or being the case that
we never go out but it rains
foll by that except that
nothing is impossible but that we live forever
archaic.
if not; unless

sentence connector

informal.
used to introduce an exclamation
my, but you're nice

preposition

except; save
they saved all but one of the pigs
but for
were it not for
but for you, we couldn't have managed

adverb

just; merely; only
he was but a child
I can but try
informal.
though; however
it's a rainy day: warm, but
all but
almost; practically
he was all but dead when we found him

noun

an objection (esp in the phrase ifs and buts )

but

/ bʌt /

noun

the outer room of a two-roomed cottage: usually the kitchen

preposition

in or into the outer part (of a house) Compare ben 1

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Grammar Note

But, like and, is a common transitional word and often begins sentences. When it is used in the middle of a sentence as a coordinating conjunction like and or so, it is not followed by a comma unless the comma is one of a pair setting off a parenthetical expression: His political affiliations make no difference, but his lack of ethics does. The cast is nearly complete, but, our efforts notwithstanding, we lack a star. and, so ¹. When but is understood as a conjunction and the pronoun following it is understood as the subject of an incompletely expressed clause, the pronoun is in the subjective case: Everyone lost faith in the plan but she ( did not lose faith ). In virtually identical contexts, when but is understood as a preposition, the pronoun following it is in the objective case: Everyone lost faith but her. The prepositional use is more common. However, when prepositional but and its following pronoun occur near the beginning of a sentence, the subjective case often appears: Everyone but she lost faith in the plan. doubt, than.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of but¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English buten, Old English būtan, contraction of be ūtan “on the outside, without”; by ( def ), out ( def )

Origin of but²

First recorded in 1715–25; noun use of adverb but ¹( def ) “outside, outside the house”

Origin of but³

< but(yric) ( def )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of but¹

Old English būtan without, outside, except, from be by + ūtan out ; related to Old Saxon biūtan , Old High German biūzan

Origin of but²

C18: from but (adv) outside, hence, outer room; see but ¹

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

but for, except for; were it not for:
But for the excessive humidity, it might have been a pleasant day.
but what. what ( def 25 ).

More idioms and phrases containing but

all but
all over but the shouting
anything but
can't help but
close but no cigar
everything but the kitchen sink
it never rains but it pours
last but not least
no ifs or buts
nothing but
sadder but wiser
separate but equal
slow but sure
spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
there but for the grace of god

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Synonym Study

See except ¹.

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Example Sentences

He said the Trump administration is driving the country toward authoritarianism and kleptocracy, but Americans of all political stripes are standing up across the country to push back.

From Los Angeles Times

“We left at 4 a.m. I took nothing from my house but what you see me wearing,” Saqo said, adding that the house had since been burned.

From Los Angeles Times

Soderbergh and Blanchett had been planning to collaborate on a different film, but when that didn’t come to fruition, the director pivoted to screenwriter David Koepp’s wry, unconventional take on an espionage story.

From Los Angeles Times

“Such great memories, and so much fun, but most importantly, it was a learning experience for all of us!”

From Los Angeles Times

We get hints that Paul’s previous self was a louse, but Holland’s smile is so soft that it’s hard to believe he was ever a nasty, selfish jerk.

From Los Angeles Times

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When To Use

What are other ways to say but?

The conjunction but means “on the contrary,” and is used to indicate contrast or opposition between elements in a sentence. How is but different from however, nevertheless, still, and yet? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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