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Synonyms

but for

Idioms  

  1. Except for, were it not for. For example, But for the afternoon shower, it was a perfect day, or But for the children, they would have gotten a divorce long ago. [c. 1200]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For a while, I found middle-period Henry James to be fairly effective, but for a couple of decades at least, fiction has been out of the mix.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

It’s true that $100 is a lot of money for someone in Simmons’ position, but for Trump, it’s meaningless.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

CC Wei confirmed that the “recent situation in the Middle East brings macroeconomic uncertainties” but for now, “AI-related demand continues to be extremely robust.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

The city of L.A. is debating similar measures but for now remains fully in LAHSA.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

This is the day I’ve been working toward for so long, but for the rest of our neighborhood it’s just a day—no more special than yesterday or tomorrow.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.