BUT Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

View synonyms for

but

[ buht; unstressed buht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

but

[ buht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

but

[ buht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

a variant of butt ⁵( def ).

but-

⁴

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

but

/ bət; ��ʌ�� /

conjunction

contrary to expectation
he cut his knee but didn't cry
in contrast; on the contrary
I like opera but my husband doesn't
usually used after a negative other than
we can't do anything but wait

conjunction

usually used after a negative without it happening or being the case that
we never go out but it rains
foll by that except that
nothing is impossible but that we live forever
archaic.
if not; unless

sentence connector

informal.
used to introduce an exclamation
my, but you're nice

preposition

except; save
they saved all but one of the pigs
but for
were it not for
but for you, we couldn't have managed

adverb

just; merely; only
he was but a child
I can but try
informal.
though; however
it's a rainy day: warm, but
all but
almost; practically
he was all but dead when we found him

noun

an objection (esp in the phrase ifs and buts )

but

/ ��ʌ�� /

noun

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

preposition

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

Discover More

Grammar Note

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. and, so ¹. 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. doubt, than.

Discover More

�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of but¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English buten, Old English ��ū�ٲ��, contraction of be ū�ٲ�� “on the outside, without”; by ( def ), out ( def )

Origin of but²

First recorded in 1715–25; noun use of adverb but ¹( def ) “outside, outside the house”

Origin of but³

< but(yric) ( def )

Discover More

�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of but¹

Old English ��ū�ٲ�� without, outside, except, from be by + ū�ٲ�� out ; related to Old Saxon biū�ٲ�� , Old High German ��ū��

Origin of but²

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

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

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 ).

More idioms and phrases containing but

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

Discover More

Synonym Study

See except ¹.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He told reporters he wasn’t talking after the game but would “double up” on his media obligations Saturday night.

From

"We are limited in what we can say legally, but what we can advise is the incident is not gang-related or linked to any wider dispute between groups."

From

Scientists say subtle differences in the colour of seawater will enable them to count tiny - but critically important - Antarctic marine creatures, from Space.

From

David Swartz, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, agrees that price rises are likely but says any large price increase would reduce demand.

From

She wholeheartedly agreed when another diner commented: "Trump may be wrong, but at least he's trying."

From

Discover More

When To Use

What are other ways to say but?

The conjunction but means “on the contrary,” and is used to indicate contrast or opposition between elements in a sentence. How is but different from however, nevertheless, still, and yet? Find out on .

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

Browse