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but Meaning & Definition

/ˈbʌt/

What Does But Mean?

As a symbol, but means ISO 639-3 language code for Bungain. As a preposition, it means Apart from, except (for), excluding. As an adverb, it means Merely, only, just, no more than.

But at a Glance

Part of speechsymbol, preposition, adverb, conjunction, noun, verb
Pronunciation/ˈbʌt/
Synonymsjust, merely and only
Pluralbuts
Verb formsbuts, butting, butted

But Definition (Symbol)

  1. ISO 639-3 language code for Bungain.

But as a Preposition

  1. Apart from, except (for), excluding.

    Everyone but Father left early.

  2. Outside of.

    Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there.

But as an Adverb

  1. Merely, only, just, no more than.

    Christmas comes but once a year, so we can but wait till then.

  2. Though, however.

    I'll have to go home early but.

  3. Used to repeat an adverb for emphasis; simply; just; absolutely.

    I would never, but never do such a thing!

But as a Conjunction

  1. However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand .

    She is very old but still attractive.

  2. On the contrary, rather .

    I am not rich but [I am] poor.  Not John but Peter went there.

  3. Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.

    But I never said you could do that!

  4. Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".

    I cannot but feel offended.

  5. Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier.

    Wow! But that's amazing!

  6. Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).

    It never rains but it pours

  7. Except with; unless with; without.
  8. Only; solely; merely.
  9. Until.
  10. That.

But as a Noun

  1. An instance of using the word "but"; an objection or caveat.

    It has to be done—no ifs, ands, or buts.

  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.

But as a Verb

  1. Use the word "but".

    But me no buts.

Noun

  1. An instance or example of using the word "but".

    It has to be done – no ifs or buts.

Adverb

  1. Merely, only, just.

    Christmas comes but once a year.

  2. Used as an intensifier.

    Nobody, but nobody, crosses me and gets away with it.

Preposition

  1. (obsolete outside Scotland) Outside of.

Conjunction

  1. 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).

    I am not rich but [I am] poor  not John but Peter went there.

  2. However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence).

    She is very old but still attractive.

  3. Without its also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).

    It never rains but it pours.

  4. (following a negated expression of improbability) That.

Synonyms of But

justmerelyonlysimplyabburbarunlessexceptingexcludingwith the exception ofwithoutyetalthoughaceven soneverthelessnotwithstandingbarringexcept forsave for
But synonyms and antonyms →

But in a Sentence

Everyone but Father left early.

I like everything but that.

Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there.

Christmas comes but once a year, so we can but wait till then.

I'll have to go home early but.

I would never, but never do such a thing!

She is very old but still attractive.

She’s welcomed them but been rude to us.

You told me I could do that, but she said that I could not.

I am not rich but [I am] poor.  Not John but Peter went there.

It’s not so much that we don’t wanna go, but I just haven’t time.

But I never said you could do that!

I cannot but feel offended.

She felt she had no recourse but to sue.

Wow! But that's amazing!

It never rains but it pours

I never hear this song but I think of you.

It has to be done—no ifs, ands, or buts.

But—and this is a big but—you have to come home by sundown.

But me no buts.

It has to be done – no ifs or buts.

Christmas comes but once a year.

Nobody, but nobody, crosses me and gets away with it.

I am not rich but [I am] poor  not John but Peter went there.

It never rains but it pours.

Word Forms & Grammar

but

but (not comparable)

but (plural buts)

but (third-person singular simple present buts, present participle butting, simple past and past participle butted)

Words That Rhyme With But

buttstrutsmutglutrutrebutcutthatnutslutchestnutscuttlebuttsomewhatrobotundercutabutdoughnutshutwhatsprithautegutuncutdonutphuthaircutnetiquetteshortcutwing nutknut

Origin of But

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.

Questions People Ask About But

Is but a symbol or a preposition?

But is mainly used as a symbol, but it can also be used as a preposition, an adverb, a conjunction, a noun and a verb.

What is another word for but?

Close synonyms of but are just, merely and only. See the full list of but synonyms and antonyms.

What is the plural of but?

The plural of but is buts.

What is the past tense of but?

The past tense of but is butted. The present participle is butting.