But — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

conjunction preposition adverb pronoun noun /ˈbət/

Meaning & Definition of But

But (conjunction)

  1. except for the fact
  2. that —used after a negative
  3. without the concomitant that

But (preposition)

  1. with the exception of, barring
  2. other than
  3. without, lacking

But (adverb)

  1. only, merely
  2. outside
  3. to the contrary

But (pronoun)

  1. that not, who not

But (noun)

  1. the kitchen or living quarters of a 2-room cottage

But (preposition) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not including

    "brought everything but the kitchen table to the campground"

    similar: apart from, aside from, bar, barring, beside, besides, except, except for, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside, outside of, save, saving

But (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. nothing more than

    "she is but a child and too young to understand such things"

    similar: just, merely, only, purely, simply

But (conjunction) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. if it were not for the fact that

    "I would have said something but I was too chicken"

    similar: except, only, saving, yet

Related Entry: All but (adverb)

All but is a different word from But. The synonyms below are for all but, not for but.

  1. very close to but not completely

    "dinner is all but on the table, so don't go anywhere"

    similar: about, almost, borderline, fair (chiefly British), fairly, feckly (chiefly Scottish), more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, somewhere, virtually, well-nigh, as good as, just about, pretty much, within an inch of
    related: appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly, kind of, partially, partly, somewhat
    near: absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb (chiefly dialect), quite, thoroughly, totally, utterly, well, wholly, barely, hardly, scarcely

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for But

The most common words with a similar meaning to But:

apart from, aside from, bar, barring, beside, besides, except, except for, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside, outside of, save, saving, just, merely, only, purely, simply, yet

Origin & Etymology of But

Middle English, from Old English būtan, preposition & conjunction, outside, without, except, except that; akin to Old High German būzan without, except; akin to Old English be by, ūt out by:1, out:1

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for But

Words & Phrases Containing But

but for, but that, but what, but then, all but

Frequently Asked Questions about But

What does "But" mean?

"But" means except for the fact. As an a conjunction, a preposition, an adverb, a pronoun and a noun, it is defined as: except for the fact. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "But"?

Other words for "But" include apart from, aside from, bar, barring, beside, besides, except and except for. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "But" you intend.

What are different ways to say "But"?

There are 21 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "But". Common alternatives include apart from, aside from, bar, barring, beside, besides, except, except for, excluding and exclusive of.

How do you use "But" in a sentence?

Examples of "But" in a sentence: "brought everything but the kitchen table to the campground"; "she is but a child and too young to understand such things"; "I would have said something but I was too chicken".

Is "But" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"But" can be used as a conjunction, a preposition, an adverb, a pronoun and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "But" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "But" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "But"?

"But" is pronounced /ˈbət/.

What is the origin of the word "But"?

"But" comes from Middle English, from Old English būtan, preposition & conjunction, outside, without, except, except that; akin to Old High German būzan without, except; akin to Old English be by, ūt out by:1, out:1. First known use: before 12th century.