but

¹

[ buht; unstressed buht ]

conjunction

1. on the contrary; yet:

   My brother went, but I did not.

2. except; save:

   She was so overcome with grief she could do nothing but weep.

3. unless; if not; except that (followed by a clause, often with that expressed):

   Nothing would do but that I should come in.

4. without the circumstance that:

   It never rains but it pours.

5. otherwise than:

   There is no hope but by prayer.

6. that (used especially after doubt, deny, etc., with a negative):

   I don't doubt but he will do it.

7. who not; that not:

   No leaders worthy of the name ever existed but they were optimists.

8. (used as an intensifier to introduce an exclamatory expression):

   But she's beautiful!

9. Informal. than:

   It no sooner started raining but it stopped.

preposition

1. with the exception of; except; save:

   No one replied but me.

adverb

1. only; just:

   There is but one God.

noun

1. buts, reservations or objections:

   You'll do as you're told, no buts about it.

but

²

[ buht ]

noun

, Scot.

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

but

³

[ buht ]

noun

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

1. a variant of butt ⁵( def ).

but-

⁴

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

   butene.

but

¹

/ bət; bʌt /

conjunction

1. contrary to expectation

   he cut his knee but didn't cry

2. in contrast; on the contrary

   I like opera but my husband doesn't

3. usually used after a negative other than

   we can't do anything but wait

conjunction

1. usually used after a negative without it happening or being the case that

   we never go out but it rains

2. foll by that except that

   nothing is impossible but that we live forever

3. archaic.
   if not; unless

sentence connector

1. informal.
   used to introduce an exclamation

   my, but you're nice

preposition

1. except; save

   they saved all but one of the pigs

2. but for
   but for were it not for

   but for you, we couldn't have managed

adverb

1. just; merely; only

   he was but a child

   I can but try

2. informal.
   though; however

   it's a rainy day: warm, but

3. all but
   all but almost; practically

   he was all but dead when we found him

noun

1. an objection (esp in the phrase ifs and buts )

but

²

/ bʌt /

noun

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

preposition

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

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.

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 )

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. but for, except for; were it not for:

   But for the excessive humidity, it might have been a pleasant day.

2. 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

Synonym Study

See except ¹.

Example Sentences

And more I cannot explain/but you, from what I did not say/will infer what I do not say.

From The Daily Beast

And there is always the easy-but-true charge of Hollywood hypocrisy.

From The Daily Beast

Sheets of bright-but-not-too-bright blue streaked with thin clouds.

From The Daily Beast

And in those conflicts, the Predator would be all-but-useless.

From The Daily Beast

And we all remember good-but-overpraised songs like If I Had a Hammer and the treacly classic Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

From The Daily Beast

When he first worked her she had the old bee-but boiler, 24 feet in diameter.

From Project Gutenberg

Till now one with sudden hiss: "But-good Christ-just look-why, the roof's leaning—!"

From Project Gutenberg

Our friend with his infinite variety and flexibility, we know-but can we put him in?

From Project Gutenberg

Eligible single gentlemen pass and repass-but there is no invitation for to inquire within or without.

From Project Gutenberg

And again there came to Honoria that ache of longing for the but-half-disclosed glory and fulness of life.

From Project Gutenberg

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.