but

[ buht; unstressed buht ]

/ bʌt; unstressed bət /

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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.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about but

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).

Origin of but

before 900; Middle English buten,Old English būtan for phrase be ūtan on the outside, without. See by, out

synonym study for but

2. See except¹.

grammar notes for but

1. 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. See also and, so¹.
2, 10. 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. See also doubt, than.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH but

but , butt

Other definitions for but (2 of 4)

but²

[ buht ]

/ bʌt /

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.

Origin of but

1715–25; noun use of but¹ (adv.) outside, outside the house

Other definitions for but (3 of 4)

but³

[ buht ]

/ bʌt /

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

butt⁵.

Other definitions for but (4 of 4)

but-

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

Origin of but-

<but(yric)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use but in a sentence

If ands and buts were candy and nuts,” Boehner said, “every day would be Christmas.
Why Eric Cantor Bailed|Patricia Murphy|June 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Her directness had made all possible 'buts' seem ridiculous and futile, and had made the expression of curiosity seem offensive.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
The other acknowledged the fact with some degree of reluctance, and explained, with many "buts" as an excuse in extenuation.
The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States|Martin R. Delany
Notice the “nots” and “buts,” indicating the change from the negative to the positive statement.
English: Composition and Literature|W. F. (William Franklin) Webster

How, having desired your Zelie without 'ifs' or 'buts' he found means to make his purpose good, Bibi-Ri!
Where the Pavement Ends|John Russell
One of their punishments will be the corroding contemplation of the "ifs" and "buts" of their stupendous gamble.
1914|John French, Viscount of Ypres

British Dictionary definitions for but (1 of 2)

but¹

/ (bʌt, unstressed bət) /

conjunction (coordinating)

contrary to expectationhe cut his knee but didn't cry

in contrast; on the contraryI like opera but my husband doesn't

(usually used after a negative) other thanwe can't do anything but wait

conjunction (subordinating)

(usually used after a negative) without it happening or being the case thatwe never go out but it rains

(foll by that) except thatnothing is impossible but that we live forever

archaic if not; unless

sentence connector

informal used to introduce an exclamationmy, but you're nice

preposition

except; savethey saved all but one of the pigs

but for were it not forbut for you, we couldn't have managed

adverb

just; merely; onlyhe was but a child; I can but try

Scot, Australian and NZ informal though; howeverit's a rainy day: warm, but

all but almost; practicallyhe was all but dead when we found him

noun

an objection (esp in the phrase ifs and buts)

Word Origin for but

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

British Dictionary definitions for but (2 of 2)

but²

/ (bʌt) Scot /

noun

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

preposition, adverb

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

Word Origin for but

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with but

but

In addition to the idioms beginning with but

but for
but good

also see:

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

but

Idioms about but

Origin of but

synonym study for but

grammar notes for but

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH but

Other definitions for but (2 of 4)

Origin of but

Other definitions for but (3 of 4)

Other definitions for but (4 of 4)

Origin of but-

Words related to but

How to use but in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for but (1 of 2)

Word Origin for but

British Dictionary definitions for but (2 of 2)

Word Origin for but

Other Idioms and Phrases with but