Definitions for but
bʌt; unstressed bətbut

Princeton's WordNet(1.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. merely, simply, just, only, but(adverb)

   and nothing more

   "I was merely asking"; "it is simply a matter of time"; "just a scratch"; "he was only a child"; "hopes that last but a moment"

Wiktionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. but(Noun)

   An instance or example of using the word "but"

   It has to be done u2013 no ifs or buts.

   Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

2. but(Noun)

   The outer room of a small two-room cottage.

   Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

3. but(Adverb)

   Merely, only.

   Since that day, my mood has changed but a little.

   Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

4. but(Adverb)

   Though, however.

   I'll have to go home early but.

   Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

5. but(Conjunction)

   Except (for), excluding. Preceded by a negation.

   I have no choice but to leave.

   Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

6. but(Conjunction)

   On the contrary, but rather (introducing a word or clause that contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence without the not).

   Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

7. but(Conjunction)

   However, although, nevertheless (implies that the following clause is contrary to prior belief or contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence).

   Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

8. but(Conjunction)

   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".

   Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

9. but(Conjunction)

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

   It never rains but it pours.

   Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

10. but(Preposition)

    Outside of.

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

    Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

11. but(Preposition)

    Without, apart from, except.

    Etymology: From but, buten, boute, bouten, from butan, equivalent to . Cognate with but, bot, bûten, buiten, buten. Compare bin, about.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. But

   except with; unless with; without

2. But

   except; besides; save

3. But

   excepting or excluding the fact that; save that; were it not that; unless; -- elliptical, for but that

4. But

   otherwise than that; that not; -- commonly, after a negative, with that

5. But

   only; solely; merely

6. But

   on the contrary; on the other hand; only; yet; still; however; nevertheless; more; further; -- as connective of sentences or clauses of a sentence, in a sense more or less exceptive or adversative; as, the House of Representatives passed the bill, but the Senate dissented; our wants are many, but quite of another kind

7. But

   the outer apartment or kitchen of a two-roomed house; -- opposed to ben, the inner room

8. But(noun)

   a limit; a boundary

9. But(noun)

   the end; esp. the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end. See 1st Butt

10. But(verb)

    see Butt, v., and Abut, v

11. But(verb)

    a limit; a bound; a goal; the extreme bound; the end

12. But(verb)

    the thicker end of anything. See But

13. But(verb)

    a mark to be shot at; a target

14. But(verb)

    a person at whom ridicule, jest, or contempt is directed; as, the butt of the company

15. But(verb)

    a push, thrust, or sudden blow, given by the head of an animal; as, the butt of a ram

16. But(verb)

    a thrust in fencing

17. But(verb)

    a piece of land left unplowed at the end of a field

18. But(verb)

    a joint where the ends of two objects come squarely together without scarfing or chamfering; -- also called butt joint

19. But(verb)

    the end of a connecting rod or other like piece, to which the boxing is attached by the strap, cotter, and gib

20. But(verb)

    the portion of a half-coupling fastened to the end of a hose

21. But(verb)

    the joint where two planks in a strake meet

22. But(verb)

    a kind of hinge used in hanging doors, etc.; -- so named because fastened on the edge of the door, which butts against the casing, instead of on its face, like the strap hinge; also called butt hinge

23. But(verb)

    the thickest and stoutest part of tanned oxhides, used for soles of boots, harness, trunks

24. But(verb)

    the hut or shelter of the person who attends to the targets in rifle practice

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. But

   but, prep. or conj. without: except: besides: only: yet: still.—Used as a noun for a verbal objection; also as a verb, as in Scott's 'but me no buts.'—adj. (Scot.) outside, as in 'but end.'—But and ben, a house having an outer and an inner room. [A.S. be-útan, bútan, without—be, by, and útan, out—near and yet outside.]

2. But

   but, n. Same as Butt.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. but

   A northern name for a flounder or plaice. Also, a conical basket for catching fish.

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. BUT

   What does BUT stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the BUT acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'but' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #28

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'but' in Written Corpus Frequency: #25

Anagrams for but »

1. tub

2. BTU

How to pronounce but?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say but in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of but in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of but in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of but in a Sentence

1. Rick Hasen:

   I've generally been pessimistic, but I'm a bit more optimistic now that it got mentioned in the president's acceptance speech - at least that it will be a priority of the administration.

2. Charles Krauthammer:

   What is surprising is that Obama announced publiclyafter the Merkel scandal that we will cease doing that to close allies, so apparently we did for close NATO allies, but we apparently made just a few exceptions and one of them is the leader of Turkey, Erdogan - not exactly a savory character. The other one was a close ally of democracy an elected leader, Netanyahu.

3. Olive Schreiner:

   Power! Did you ever hear of men being asked whether other souls should have power or not? It is born in them. You may dam up the fountain of water, and make it a stagnant marsh, or you may let it run free and do its work; but you cannot say whether it shall be there; it is there. And it will act, if not openly for good, then covertly for evil; but it will act.

4. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani:

   You will learn, not later but soon, that you are making a mistake in Yemen, too.

5. Barbora Strycova:

   I definitely feel more comfortable on it, i feel like this year especially I have been finding the balance of being a little bit more patient but also playing my game.

Images & Illustrations of but

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