But Definition & Meaning

American

British

More Idioms

Grammar

Usage

Related Words

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms but 1 American [buht, buht] / bʌt, bət /

conjunction

1. on the contrary; yet.

   My brother went, but I did not.

2. except; save.

   She was so overcome with grief she could do nothing but weep.

3. unless; if not; except that (followed by a clause, often with that expressed).

   Nothing would do but that I should come in.

4. without the circumstance that.

   It never rains but it pours.

5. otherwise than.

   There is no hope but by prayer.

6. that (used especially after doubt, deny, etc., with a negative).

   I don't doubt but he will do it.

7. who not; that not.

   No leaders worthy of the name ever existed but they were optimists.

8. (used as an intensifier to introduce an exclamatory expression).

   But she's beautiful!

9. Informal. than.

   It no sooner started raining but it stopped.

preposition

1. with the exception of; except; save.

   No one replied but me.

adverb

1. only; just.

   There is but one God.

noun

1. buts, reservations or objections.

   You'll do as you're told, no buts about it.

idioms

1. but what. what.

2. but for, except for; were it not for.

   But for the excessive humidity, it might have been a pleasant day.

but 2 American [buht] / bʌt /

noun

Scot.

1. the outer or front room of a house; the outer or front apartment in an apartment house.

2. the kitchen of a two-room dwelling, especially of a cottage.

but 3 American [buht] / bʌt /

noun

PLURAL

but

PLURAL

buts

1. a variant of butt.

but- 4 American

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

   butene.

but 1 British / bət, bʌt /

conjunction

1. contrary to expectation

   he cut his knee but didn't cry

2. in contrast; on the contrary

   I like opera but my husband doesn't

3. (usually used after a negative) other than

   we can't do anything but wait

"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

conjunction

1. (usually used after a negative) without it happening or being the case that

   we never go out but it rains

2. (foll by that) except that

   nothing is impossible but that we live forever

3. archaic if not; unless

"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

1. informal used to introduce an exclamation

   my, but you're nice

"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

preposition

1. except; save

   they saved all but one of the pigs

2. were it not for

   but for you, we couldn't have managed

"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

adverb

1. just; merely; only

   he was but a child

   I can but try

2. informal though; however

   it's a rainy day: warm, but

3. almost; practically

   he was all but dead when we found him

"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

noun

1. an objection (esp in the phrase ifs and buts )

"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 but 2 British / bʌt /

noun

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

"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

preposition

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

"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 but More Idioms

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

Grammar

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.

Usage

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.

Related Words

See except 1.

Etymology

Origin of but1

First recorded before 900; Middle English buten, Old English būtan, contraction of be ūtan “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 but-4

< but(yric) ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In fact, scientists revealed that the asteroid is only 11 metres across, comparable to a school bus — that may seem huge for us Earthlings, but in astronomical proportions that is tiny.

From Space Scoop

Carvana Co. is a “true disruptor,” with an online platform and customer experience that positions it to gain market share in the large but fragmented used-car market.

From MarketWatch

The heyday of Britain’s Victorian empire spawned many larger-than-life personalities, but few of them rivaled Col.

From The Wall Street Journal

“These violations are not about withholding wages or failing to pay partners, but as part of the agreement, some current and former partners will receive payouts. This compensation is about compliance, not unpaid wages.”

From The Wall Street Journal

It started as a way for small businesses to have an e-commerce storefront but has also attracted larger retailers.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.