BUT | Meaning, Definition In Cambridge English Dictionary

Meaning of but in English butconjunction uk strong /bʌt/ weak /bət/ us strong /bʌt/ weak /bət/ Add to word list Add to word list A1 used to introduce an added statement, usually something that is different from what you have said before: She's not only a painter but also a writer (= she is both). She's very hard-working but not very imaginative. This is not caused by evil, but by simple ignorance. The play's good, but not that good - I've seen better. I'm sorry, but I think you're wrong when you say she did it deliberately. Call me old-fashioned, but I like handwritten letters. I can understand his unhappiness. But to attempt suicide! "She said she's leaving." "But why?" You can invite Keith to the party, but please don't ask that friend of his. We must not complain about the problem, but (= instead we must) help to put it right. She's not a painter but a writer (= she is a writer, not a painter).but then UK I think it's true, but then (= it should be understood that) I'm no expert.UK He said he hadn't been there, but then (= it is not surprising that) he would say that.

• We ran after him, but he escaped.
• It's a nice dress, but it creases very easily.
• He looked disappointed at their decision, but didn't argue.
• Everyone disagrees with him, but nobody dares say so.
• I haven't got any grapefruit juice, but I've got orange juice. Will that do?

Linguistics: connecting words which express a contrast

• after
• after all idiom
• again
• albeit
• at any rate idiom
• at least idiom
• disjunctive
• in the face of something idiom
• in the teeth of something idiom
• mind
• mind (you) idiom
• nonetheless
• notwithstanding
• spite
• then
• then again idiom
• though
• when
• whether
• whichever

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Grammar

ButBut is a conjunction. … But as a linking wordWe use but to link items which are the same grammatical type (coordinating conjunction). But is used to connect ideas that contrast. … But meaning ‘except’But means ‘except’ when it is used after words such as all, everything/nothing, everyone/no one, everybody/nobody: … But for + reasonBut for is used to introduce the reason why something didn’t happen: … All but meaning ‘almost completely’ … Conjunctions: contrastingThe conjunctions but and although/though connect ideas that contrast. Whereas is also used but it is not as common: … ButBut is a coordinating conjunction used to connect ideas that contrast. Coordinating conjunctions connect items which are the same grammatical type. … Although/thoughAlthough/though can be used to contrast ideas. Although/though are subordinating conjunctions used to connect a subordinate clause to a main clause, like after, as, before, if, since, that, even though, even if. … But or although?But cannot be used in the same way as although/though. We use but to connect items which are the same grammatical type (coordinating conjunction). … Even though, even ifEven though and even if are also used as subordinating conjunctions in the same way as although/though. Even though is similar to although but it makes a stronger contrast: … Conjunctions: typical errorsWe use and to connect words in a list and to connect phrases and clauses in a sentence: … butpreposition, conjunction uk strong /bʌt/ weak /bət/ us strong /bʌt/ weak /bət/ B1 except: nothing but This car has been nothing but trouble - it's always breaking down! She's one of those guests who does nothing but complain.all but Eventually, all but one of them promised to come to his birthday party.but for I would have crashed the car but for your warning. This is the last episode but one (= one before the last) of the series. See also anything but the last but one

• I've received replies from everybody but Jane.
• In these cases there is no choice but to amputate.
• For miles you could see nothing but flooded fields.
• He felt nothing but contempt for her.
• Poor farmers have little option but to try to grow food on these infertile soils.

Excluding

• acid-free
• apart
• bar
• bar none idiom
• barring
• dumping ground
• exclude
• exclude someone/something from something
• excluding
• exclusion
• exclusion from something
• freeze
• omission
• omit
• on/from the sidelines idiom
• ostracism
• ostracize
• sideline
• well out of something idiom
• with the exception of someone/something

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Grammar

ButBut is a conjunction. … But as a linking wordWe use but to link items which are the same grammatical type (coordinating conjunction). But is used to connect ideas that contrast. … But meaning ‘except’But means ‘except’ when it is used after words such as all, everything/nothing, everyone/no one, everybody/nobody: … But for + reasonBut for is used to introduce the reason why something didn’t happen: … All but meaning ‘almost completely’ … Conjunctions: contrastingThe conjunctions but and although/though connect ideas that contrast. Whereas is also used but it is not as common: … ButBut is a coordinating conjunction used to connect ideas that contrast. Coordinating conjunctions connect items which are the same grammatical type. … Although/thoughAlthough/though can be used to contrast ideas. Although/though are subordinating conjunctions used to connect a subordinate clause to a main clause, like after, as, before, if, since, that, even though, even if. … But or although?But cannot be used in the same way as although/though. We use but to connect items which are the same grammatical type (coordinating conjunction). … Even though, even ifEven though and even if are also used as subordinating conjunctions in the same way as although/though. Even though is similar to although but it makes a stronger contrast: … Conjunctions: typical errorsWe use and to connect words in a list and to connect phrases and clauses in a sentence: … butadverb uk strong /bʌt/ weak /bət/ us strong /bʌt/ weak /bət/

but adverb (FOR EMPHASIS)

used to give force to a statement: Everyone, but everyone, will be there. Linguistics: very & extreme

• abjectly
• absolutely
• absolutely fabulous
• abundantly
• abundantly clear
• beyond
• enormously
• exceedingly
• extraordinarily
• imagine
• indeed
• particularly
• richly
• showstopping
• strongly held
• stupefyingly
• super
• super-duper
• totally
• violently

See more results »

but adverb (ONLY)

formal only; just: She's but a young girl! Merely and barely

• all
• all of something idiom
• at a pinch idiom
• barely
• by a whisker idiom
• by inches idiom
• hardly
• ill
• is all idiom
• just
• little
• mere
• merely
• merest
• narrowly
• only
• scarce
• scarcely
• whisker

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Grammar

ButBut is a conjunction. … But as a linking wordWe use but to link items which are the same grammatical type (coordinating conjunction). But is used to connect ideas that contrast. … But meaning ‘except’But means ‘except’ when it is used after words such as all, everything/nothing, everyone/no one, everybody/nobody: … But for + reasonBut for is used to introduce the reason why something didn’t happen: … All but meaning ‘almost completely’ … butnoun uk /bʌt/ us /bʌt/  no buts (about it) used to emphasize that something will happen even if the person you are talking to does not want it to: We're going to visit your aunt tomorrow and there'll be no buts about it. See more (Definition of but from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

but | American Dictionary

butconjunction us /bʌt, bət/

but conjunction (DIFFERENCE)

Add to word list Add to word list used to express a difference or to introduce an added statement: You can take Route 14 to get there, but it may take you a little longer. We enjoyed our vacation a lot, but it was expensive. butpreposition us /bʌt, bət/

but preposition (EXCEPT)

except: Nobody but John was willing to talk to her. This car has been nothing but trouble – it’s always breaking down! (Definition of but from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) What is the pronunciation of but?

Translations of but

in Chinese (Traditional) 但是，不過, 而, 相反… See more in Chinese (Simplified) 但是，不过, 而, 相反… See more in Spanish pero, menos, no más que… See more in Portuguese mas, exceto, além de… See more in Marathi in Japanese in Turkish in French in Catalan in Dutch in Tamil in Hindi in Gujarati in Danish in Swedish in Malay in German in Norwegian in Urdu in Ukrainian in Telugu in Bengali in Czech in Indonesian in Thai in Vietnamese in Polish in Korean in Italian परंतू, वगळता… See more しかし, だが, ～以外に… See more fakat, ancak, ama… See more mais, sauf, excepté… See more però, tret de… See more maar, behalve… See more சேர்க்கப்பட்ட அறிக்கையை அறிமுகப்படுத்தப் பயன்படுகிறது, பொதுவாக நீங்கள் முன்பு கூறியவற்றிலிருந்து வேறுபட்ட ஒன்று, ஒன்றை/அதை தவிர… See more लेकिन, बल्कि, सिवाय… See more પરંતુ, પણ, સિવાય… See more men, med undtagelse af, på nær… See more men, utom… See more tetapi, kecuali… See more aber, außer… See more men, bortsett fra, unntatt… See more لیکن, مگر, بلکہ… See more але, однак, лише… See more కాని, అయినా, తప్ప… See more কিন্তু, তবে, ছাড়া… See more ale, kromě… See more tetapi, kecuali… See more แต่, ยกเว้น… See more nhưng mà, trừ ra… See more ale, oprócz, tylko nie… See more 그러나, -을 제외한… See more ma, però, eccetto… See more Need a translator?

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busy signal busybody busyness busywork but but and ben but for someone/something but then (again) idiom butane {{#randomImageQuizHook.filename}} {{#randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes Try a quiz now {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{^randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.filename}}

More meanings of but

• but for someone/something
• nothing but something
• but and ben
• no alternative but
• all but phrase
• all but idiom
• but then (again) idiom

See all meanings

• all but phrase
• all but idiom
• but then (again) idiom
• none but idiom
• cannot but phrase
• anything but idiom
• sadder but wiser idiom

See all idioms and phrases

Word of the Day

moisturize

UK /ˈmɔɪs.tʃər.aɪz/ US /ˈmɔɪs.tʃɚ.aɪz/

to put a special substance on your skin to stop it from becoming dry

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• English   ConjunctionPreposition, conjunction
  • Adverb 
    • but (FOR EMPHASIS)
    • but (ONLY)
  • Noun 
    • no buts (about it)
• American   
  • Conjunction 
    • but (DIFFERENCE)
  • Preposition 
    • but (EXCEPT)

• Translations
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