but

1 of 5

conjunction

1
a
: except for the fact
would have protested but that he was afraid
b
: that
used after a negative
there is no doubt but he won
c
: without the concomitant that
it never rains but it pours
d
: if not : unless
e
: than
no sooner started but it stopped
not often in formal use
2
a
: on the contrary : on the other hand : notwithstanding
used to connect coordinate elements
he was called but he did not answer
not peace but a sword
b
: yet
poor but proud
c
: with the exception of
used before a word often taken to be the subject of a clause
none but the brave deserves the fairJohn Dryden

but

2 of 5

preposition

1
a
: with the exception of : barring
no one there but me
compare but entry 1 sense 2c
b
: other than
this letter is nothing but an insult
2
Scotland
b

but

3 of 5

adverb

1
: only, merely
he is but a child
2
Scotland : outside
3
: to the contrary
who knows but that she may succeed
4
used as an intensive
get there but fast

but

4 of 5

pronoun

: that not : who not
nobody but has his faultWilliam Shakespeare

but

5 of 5

noun

Scotland
: the kitchen or living quarters of a 2-room cottage
Phrases
but that
: that
used after a negative
there is no doubt but that it must be done
but what
: that … not
used to indicate possibility or uncertainty
I don't know but what I will go

Examples of but in a Sentence

Conjunction We had no choice but to leave. They've done nothing but argue all afternoon. Preposition There was no one there but him. I didn't tell anyone but my sister. Who but you would think that? Adverb They have but two weeks to get ready. she is but a child and too young to understand such things
Recent Examples on the Web
Conjunction
But scientists and doctors say things aren’t that simple — and a belief that exposing children to marijuana, either directly or indirectly, is harmless isn’t supported by the facts. Daniel M. Jimenez, The Cannifornian, 22 June 2017 But with a full and volatile season behind them, the two have grown closer, prompting check-ins from Bradford last month, seeking tidbits from his coach who watched OTA practices on a tablet from his Kentucky retreat. Chad Graff, Twin Cities, 15 June 2017 The tech firm didn’t pull that video down, but reached out to police. Queenie Wong, The Mercury News, 3 May 2017 But campus leaders like Chancellor Vincent Fulginiti and many community donors had a bigger vision. Matthew Wynia, The Denver Post, 1 May 2017 Normally a chain moving here wouldn’t pique my interest too much, but this place has got some serious fans — called ‘ Allyson Reedy, The Know, 24 Apr. 2017 The powerhouse, year-round clubs might be peaking again but the strongest undercurrents Saturday came from team connections. Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 22 Apr. 2017 But enough do to make a significant dent in the prescription numbers. Christopher Ingraham, The Cannabist, 21 Apr. 2017
Preposition
Normally, big job losses trigger massive searches for full-time jobs, but this crisis has been anything but normal. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 1 June 2020 Despite the pleas for calm, the nation seemed anything but as a fitful week drew to a close. Robert Klemko, Washington Post, 30 May 2020 The Big Ten hasn’t enacted a conference-wide date but Ohio State, which is scheduled to visit Oregon a week after NDSU on Sept. 12, has said its players will begin workouts June 8. oregonlive, 28 May 2020 These assumptions are in need of scrutiny, not by comparison with other countries but of this country with itself a few generations ago. Marilynne Robinson, The New York Review of Books, 27 May 2020 Nick has more power but Joey is a bit more nimble -- everything else is essentially equal. John Owning, Dallas News, 27 May 2020 Some people just believe that there’s no way but to just fight back. Chris Buckley, New York Times, 15 May 2020 Facebook has no option but to get its act together in India. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, 23 Apr. 2020
Adverb
Myles Doran His wit and dear friendship have made my work feel like anything but. Steve Hartman, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2024 Flying the friendly skies for a parent with a young child can feel like anything but. Kristina Behr, Parents, 12 Jan. 2024 From Lindsey Horan, Ada Hegerberg, and an on-fire Eugénie Le Sommer, to Selma Bacha, Wendie Renard, Danielle Van de Donk, and teammates, Lyon cannot but aim big. Assile Toufaily, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 There’s no if’s, and’s or but’s about it: the Rangers can’t waste this opportunity against a tanking opponent. Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2023 Human writers were more likely to use words like however, although, and but. Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 17 Aug. 2023 The sudden turn of events raises fresh questions about a case that was all but closed last month, reviving the probe into Hunter Biden on tax evasion and gun charges and giving Weiss broad authority to investigate and report out his findings. Lindsay Whitehurst, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2023 But the past three years has taught the sector that this is a brutal business, and Getir’s reign in Europe is anything but secure. WIRED, 11 Jan. 2023 And other characteristics of the Dmanisi hominids, such as their more modern limb-to-body proportions, don’t match up with H. habilis at all but do fit with H. erectus, which evolved in Africa about 1.9 million years ago. Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2015
Noun
There’s no questions or ifs or buts, that is the end of it. Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023 There are no ifs, no buts about it — Tom Grennan has the U.K. chart crown with What Ifs & Maybes (Insanity). Lars Brandle, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019 No ifs, no buts, no calculating where the series stands, and whether more time on the sidelines would best serve the two elite thirtysomethings. Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Apr. 2023 But … there’s a but. Erica Gunn, Forbes, 27 May 2022 No ifs, ands or buts. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2023 There’s always a but. oregonlive, 2 Mar. 2023 Now, get ready for the but. Jacqueline Andriakos, Women's Health, 24 Feb. 2023 But there is a but. James Barron, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'but.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Conjunction, Preposition, Adverb, and Pronoun

Middle English, from Old English būtan, preposition & conjunction, outside, without, except, except that; akin to Old High German būzan without, except; akin to Old English be by, ūt out — more at by entry 1, out entry 1

Noun

Scots but, adjective (outer)

First Known Use

Conjunction

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

circa 1518, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1724, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of but was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near but

Cite this Entry

“But.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/but. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

but

1 of 3 conjunction
1
a
: except that : unless
it never rains but it pours
b
: that entry 3 sense 1b
used after a negative
there is no doubt but he won
2
a
: while just the opposite
I ski but you don't
b
: yet nevertheless
fell but wasn't hurt
c
: except sense 2
no one but you may enter

but

2 of 3 preposition
1
: with the exception of
no one there but me
2
: other than
this letter is nothing but an insult

but

3 of 3 adverb
: no more than : only
we have but two weeks to get ready

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