for
[ fawr; unstressed fer ]
/ fɔr; unstressed fər /
Save This Word!
preposition
conjunction
seeing that; since.
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Idioms about for
for it, British. in (def. 33).
Origin of for
before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old Saxon for; akin to fore1, Latin per through, Greek pró before, ahead
Words nearby for
foo yong, foozle, fop, foppery, foppish, for, for a change, forage, forage cap, forage mite, forager
Other definitions for for (2 of 5)
for-
a prefix meaning “away,” “off,” “to the uttermost,” “extremely,” “wrongly,” or imparting a negative or privative force, occurring in verbs and nouns formed from verbs of Old or Middle English origin, many of which are now obsolete or archaic: forbid; forbear; forswear; forbearance.
Origin of for-
Middle English, Old English; compare German ver-,Greek peri-,Latin per-
Other definitions for for (3 of 5)
for.
abbreviation
foreign.
forester.
forestry.
Other definitions for for (4 of 5)
For.
abbreviation
Forester.
Other definitions for for (5 of 5)
F.O.R.
or f.o.r.
abbreviation
free on rails.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
WHEN TO USE
What are other ways to say for?
The conjunction for means “seeing that” or “since.” Do you know when to use for, since, because, as, and inasmuch as? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.
How to use for in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for for (1 of 3)
for
/ (fɔː, unstressed fə) /
preposition
conjunction
(coordinating) for the following reason; because; seeing thatI couldn't stay, for the area was violent
Word Origin for for
Old English; related to Old Norse fyr for, Old High German fora before, Latin per through, prō before, Greek pro before, in front
British Dictionary definitions for for (2 of 3)
for-
prefix
indicating rejection or prohibitionforbear; forbid
indicating falsity or wrongnessforswear
used to give intensive forceforgive; forlorn
Word Origin for for-
Old English for-; related to German ver-, Latin per-, Greek peri-
British Dictionary definitions for for (3 of 3)
f.o.r.
FOR
/ commerce /
abbreviation for
free on rail
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 for
for
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.