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Home / But and if Are What Kind of Words

But and if Are What Kind of Words

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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.

This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.

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.

VIDEO FOR BUT

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For all those apology-givers out there, listen up! These words will cancel out any apology you're trying to give.

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QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Which of the following words describes "sky blue"?

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Idioms about but

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

Origin of but

1

before 900; Middle English buten,Old English būtan for phrase be ūtan on the outside, without. See by, out

synonym study for but

grammar notes for but

1. 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, so1.
2, 10. 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.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH but

but , butt

Words nearby but

busybody, busy Lizzie, busyness, busy signal, busywork, but, butabarbital sodium, butadiene, butamben, but and ben, butane

Other definitions for but (2 of 4)

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.

Origin of but

2

1715–25; noun use of but1 (adv.) outside, outside the house

Other definitions for but (3 of 4)

noun plural (especially collectively) but, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) buts.

Other definitions for but (4 of 4)

a combining form meaning "containing a group of four carbon atoms," used in the formation of compound words: butene.

Origin of but-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to saybut?

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 .

Words related to but

although, however, nevertheless, on the other hand, still, though, yet, aside from, barring, disregarding, except, omitting, passing over, without

How to use but in a sentence

  • And more I cannot explain/but you, from what I did not say/will infer what I do not say.

  • And there is always the easy-but-true charge of Hollywood hypocrisy.

  • Sheets of bright-but-not-too-bright blue streaked with thin clouds.

  • And in those conflicts, the Predator would be all-but-useless.

  • And we all remember good-but-overpraised songs like If I Had a Hammer and the treacly classic Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

  • When he first worked her she had the old bee-but boiler, 24 feet in diameter.

  • Till now one with sudden hiss: "But-good Christ-just look-why, the roof's leaning—!"

  • Our friend with his infinite variety and flexibility, we know-but can we put him in?

  • Eligible single gentlemen pass and repass-but there is no invitation for to inquire within or without.

  • And again there came to Honoria that ache of longing for the but-half-disclosed glory and fulness of life.

British Dictionary definitions for but (1 of 2)

but 1

/ (bʌt, unstressed bət) /

conjunction (coordinating)

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 (subordinating)

(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

sentence connector

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

preposition

except; save they saved all but one of the pigs

but for 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

Scot, Australian and NZ informal though; however it's a rainy day: warm, but

all but almost; practically he was all but dead when we found him

noun

an objection (esp in the phrase ifs and buts)

Word Origin for but

Old English būtan without, outside, except, from be by + ūtan out; related to Old Saxon biūtan, Old High German biūzan

British Dictionary definitions for but (2 of 2)

noun

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

preposition, adverb

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

Word Origin for but

C18: from but (adv) outside, hence, outer room; see but 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

Other Idioms and Phrases with but

In addition to the idioms beginning with but

  • but for
  • but good

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

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

But and if Are What Kind of Words

Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/but