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

But at this point, it’s all but impossible to imagine him sniffing the playoffs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

They remain ninth in the table and their pre-season target of Champions League qualification is all but gone.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Ukraine's homegrown air defence network -- electronic jamming systems, anti-aircraft guns, helicopters and jets, and smaller interceptor drones -- took down all but 22 of the Russian drones.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Per the terms of the filing, shareholders’ ability to challenge CEO Elon Musk’s decisions, whether through the board or the legal system, will be so limited as to make the chief executive all but invincible.

From Slate • May 15, 2026

Dodger snorted in displeasure, sensing the wrongness of it all, but Akira brought him closer so they could see inside.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

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