BUT Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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but

[buht, 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

but ,

plural

buts .

a variant of butt.

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

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

preposition

except; save
they saved all but one of the pigs
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
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

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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. See also 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. See also doubt, than.

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51�Թ� 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. )

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51�Թ� 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

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

but what. what.
but for, except for; were it not for.
But for the excessive humidity, it might have been a pleasant day.

In addition to the idioms beginning with but, 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.

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Synonym Study

See except ¹.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

To continue that rise, Perkins and Crawford believe there have to be more people involved in not only playing, but creating the games.

From

My own view is that that is still the most faithful press, but that there is, I'll say, a significant possibility that we might see a trans victory in this case.

From

He also said there was radiological and chemical contamination at the site, but that the level of radioactivity outside had remained unchanged and at normal levels.

From

Maybe it's unfair to draw comparisons in Test cricket just yet, but there's no denying 25-year-old Gill is following in a rich lineage of Indian cricket batting greats.

From

Nothing sinister in that, but the test results are supposed to remain confidential.

From

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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 Thesaurus.com.

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

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