all but

Idioms  

1. Almost, nearly, as in I've all but finished the book. This expression was used by Andrew Marvell in “Thoughts in a Garden”: “Society is all but rude, To this delicious solitude.” [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

The visitors' previous record-winning margin was a 17-point victory in 2022, with the defeat all but ending Steve Borthwick side's championship hopes.

From BBC

All but one of the 19 people who died were in west Altadena.

From Los Angeles Times

Of these, NAV figures were available for 42 of the BDCs, and all but six were trading at discounts to NAV as of Thursday’s close.

From MarketWatch

Seven of the nine justices — all but Alito and Sotomayor — wrote opinions for the majority or dissent that covered 164 pages in total.

From Los Angeles Times

As to the famous fine line between stupid and clever, the stupidity and the cleverness are all but inextricable, and to the point.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• about
• approximately
• around
• essentially
• most
• much
• practically
• relatively
• roughly
• virtually