for
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.
seeing that; since.
Idioms about for
for it, British. in (def. 33).
Origin of for
1Words that may be confused with for
Other definitions for for- (2 of 5)
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-
2Other definitions for for. (3 of 5)
foreign.
forester.
forestry.
Other definitions for For. (4 of 5)
Forester.
Other definitions for F.O.R. (5 of 5)
free on rails.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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 | THE DAILY BEASTThere was no mistaking this for the gaudiness and gilt of made-for-TV awards shows.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTTwenty-five more for-profits are on well on their way to doing the same thing.
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 | THE 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 ChopinBut 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 ChaucerAt 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)
/ (fɔː, unstressed fə) /
intended to reach; directed or belonging to: there's a phone call for you
to the advantage of: I only did it for you
in the direction of: heading 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 of: those for the proposal; vote for me
in order to get or achieve: I 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 in: these kennels are for puppies
in exchange for; at a cost of; to the amount of: I got it for hardly any money
such as explains or results in: his reason for changing his job was not given
in place of: a substitute for the injured player
because of; through: she wept for pure relief
with regard or consideration to the usual characteristics of: he's short for a man; it's cool for this time of year
concerning; as regards: desire for money
as being: we took him for the owner; I know that for a fact
at a specified time: a date for the next evening
to do or partake of: an appointment for supper
in the duty or task of: that's for him to say
to allow of: too big a job for us to handle
despite; notwithstanding: she's a good wife, for all her nagging
in order to preserve, retain, etc: to fight for survival
as a direct equivalent to: word for word; weight for weight
in order to become or enter: to go for a soldier; to train for the priesthood
in recompense for: I paid for it last week; he took the punishment for his crime
for it British informal liable for punishment or blame: you'll be for it if she catches you
nothing for it no choice; no other course
(coordinating) for the following reason; because; seeing that: I couldn't stay, for the area was violent
Origin of for
1British Dictionary definitions for for- (2 of 3)
indicating rejection or prohibition: forbear; forbid
indicating falsity or wrongness: forswear
used to give intensive force: forgive; forlorn
Origin of for-
2British Dictionary definitions for f.o.r. (3 of 3)
FOR
/ commerce /
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
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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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