for

[ fawr; unstressed fer ]

/ fɔr; unstressed fər /

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preposition

with the object or purpose of: to run for exercise.

intended to belong to, or be used in connection with: equipment for the army;a closet for dishes.

suiting the purposes or needs of: medicine for the aged.

in order to obtain, gain, or acquire: a suit for alimony;to work for wages.

(used to express a wish, as of something to be experienced or obtained): O, for a cold drink!

sensitive or responsive to: an eye for beauty.

desirous of: a longing for something;a taste for fancy clothes.

in consideration or payment of; in return for: three for a dollar;to be thanked for one's efforts.

appropriate or adapted to: a subject for speculation;clothes for winter.

with regard or respect to: pressed for time;too warm for April.

during the continuance of: for a long time.

in favor of; on the side of: to be for honest government.

in place of; instead of: a substitute for butter.

in the interest of; on behalf of: to act for a client.

in exchange for; as an offset to: blow for blow;money for goods.

in punishment of: payment for the crime.

in honor of: to give a dinner for a person.

with the purpose of reaching: to start for London.

contributive to: for the advantage of everybody.

in order to save: to flee for one's life.

in order to become: to train recruits for soldiers.

in assignment or attribution to: an appointment for the afternoon;That's for you to decide.

such as to allow of or to require: too many for separate mention.

such as results in: his reason for going.

as affecting the interests or circumstances of: bad for one's health.

in proportion or with reference to: He is tall for his age.

in the character of; as being: to know a thing for a fact.

by reason of; because of: to shout for joy;a city famed for its beauty.

in spite of: He's a decent guy for all that.

to the extent or amount of: to walk for a mile.

(used to introduce a subject in an infinitive phrase): It's time for me to go.

(used to indicate the number of successes out of a specified number of attempts): The batter was 2 for 4 in the game.

conjunction

seeing that; since.

because.

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.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH for

for , fore, four

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

Sands was involved in a scandalous-for-the-time romance with the carpenter and there were rumors she was pregnant with his child.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There was no mistaking this for the gaudiness and gilt of made-for-TV awards shows.
Streetwear pioneer, visionary entrepreneur, and community mentor Daymond John is honored with Hennessy Privilege Award|Hennessy|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Given the potential for a cyber tit-for-tat to escalate, Obama has even more incentive to find a diplomatic solution.
Obama Could Hit China to Punish North Korea|Shane Harris, Tim Mak|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Twenty-five more for-profits are on well on their way to doing the same thing.
The 26 Next Hobby Lobbys|Abby Haglage|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Will Christian pharmacists, county clerks, florists, and for-profit wedding chapels really withdraw from society, as you describe?
Do LGBTs Owe Christians an Olive Branch? Try The Other Way Around|Jay Michaelson|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The result of this stock-taking shows that eleven volumes were unaccounted-for, a list of which is appended.
Report of the Chief Librarian for the Year 1924-25|General Assembly Library (New Zealand)
At this stock-taking the number unaccounted-for is twenty-two, several of which are quite recent accessions to the Library.
Report of the Chief Librarian for the Year 1924-25|General Assembly Library (New Zealand)
Edna's desire to see Mademoiselle Reisz had increased tenfold since these unlooked-for obstacles had arisen to thwart it.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
But no other instance of for-tened is known, nor yet of crece as short for increes (increase).
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
At length the long looked-for copy arrived, he saw it, composed himself and died, 1543.
Gospel Philosophy|J. H. Ward

British Dictionary definitions for for (1 of 3)

for

/ (fɔː, unstressed fə) /

preposition

intended to reach; directed or belonging tothere's a phone call for you

to the advantage ofI only did it for you

in the direction ofheading for the border

over a span of (time or distance)working for six days; the river ran for six miles

in favour of; in support ofthose for the proposal; vote for me

in order to get or achieveI do it for money; he does it for pleasure; what did you do that for?

appropriate to; designed to meet the needs of; meant to be used inthese kennels are for puppies

in exchange for; at a cost of; to the amount ofI got it for hardly any money

such as explains or results inhis reason for changing his job was not given

in place ofa substitute for the injured player

because of; throughshe wept for pure relief

with regard or consideration to the usual characteristics ofhe's short for a man; it's cool for this time of year

concerning; as regardsdesire for money

as beingwe took him for the owner; I know that for a fact

at a specified timea date for the next evening

to do or partake ofan appointment for supper

in the duty or task ofthat's for him to say

to allow oftoo big a job for us to handle

despite; notwithstandingshe's a good wife, for all her nagging

in order to preserve, retain, etcto fight for survival

as a direct equivalent toword for word; weight for weight

in order to become or enterto go for a soldier; to train for the priesthood

in recompense forI paid for it last week; he took the punishment for his crime

for it British informal liable for punishment or blameyou'll be for it if she catches you

nothing for it no choice; no other course

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

In addition to the idioms beginning with for

for a change
for all
for all intents and purposes
for all one is worth
for all that
for all the world
for a loop
for a song
for a wonder
for better or for worse
for certain
for chicken feed
for crying out loud
for days on end
for dear life
fore and aft
for example
for fear of
for free
for fun
for God's sake
for good
for good measure
for heaven's sake
for keeps
for love or money
for one
for one's money
for one's pains
for one's part
for one's sake
for one thing
for openers
for Pete's sake
for real
for shame
for short
for show
for starters
for sure
for that matter
for the asking
for the best
for the birds
for the hell of it
for the life of one
for the love of
for the moment
for the most part
for the present
for the record
for the sake of
for the time being
for two cents
for what it's worth

also see:

all for
as for
but for
do for
done for
except for
go for
going for
good for
in for
out for
uncalled for
what for

for

Idioms about for

Origin of for

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH for

Words nearby for

Other definitions for for (2 of 5)

Origin of for-

Other definitions for for (3 of 5)

Other definitions for for (4 of 5)

Other definitions for for (5 of 5)

or f.o.r.

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say for?

Words related to for

How to use for in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for for (1 of 3)

Word Origin for for

British Dictionary definitions for for (2 of 3)

Word Origin for for-

British Dictionary definitions for for (3 of 3)

FOR

Other Idioms and Phrases with for