English Explanatory Dictionary

but

English dictionary entry

Meanings

prep
  1. Apart from, except (for), excluding.
  2. Outside of.
adv
  1. Merely, only, just, no more than
  2. Though, however.
  3. Used to repeat an adverb for emphasis; simply; just; absolutely.
conj
  1. However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence).
  2. On the contrary, rather (as a regular adversative conjunction, introducing a word or clause in contrast or contradiction with the preceding negative clause or sentence).
  3. Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.
  4. Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, (archaic) with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".
  5. Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier.
  6. Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).
  7. Except with; unless with; without.
  8. Only; solely; merely.
  9. Until.
  10. That.
noun
  1. An instance of using the word "but"; an objection or caveat.
  2. The outer room of a small two-room cottage.
  3. A limit; a boundary.
  4. The end; especially the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end; the butt.
verb
  1. Use the word "but".
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈbʌt/ [bʌ̈t] bŭt LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-but.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-but.wav en-us-but.ogg /ˈbʊt/ /ˈbət/ /ˈbɜt/ /ˈbɐ̞t/ EN-AU ck1 but.ogg /bət/ bət LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-but2.wav

Word forms

but buts butting butted

Etymology

From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.

Synonyms

barring except for save for apart apart from aside from bar besides but but for except excepting excluding forby modulo not counting other than outtake save saving with the exception of barely just literally merely no more than nothing but only simply even so nevertheless notwithstanding yet all that said anyhow all the same be it as it may be that as it may having said that howbeit however just the same maugre natheless nonetheless still still and all that being said that said though withal abbur although ac unless without

Derived words

top and but all but all-but anything but but and ben but for but for the grace of God but good but hey but if but me no buts but seriously folks but that but then but then again but who's counting can but hope cannot but cannot help but can't but can't help but everything but the galley stove gurry-but ifs, ands, or buts it's not what you know but whom you know it's not what you say but how you say it Jill of all trades but mistress of none not but nothing but not only … but also silent-but-violent though but yesterday but one
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