Definitions for but
bʌt; unstressed bətbut

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 2 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(4.00 / 1 vote)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. Ahmed Korayem:

   You can kill the poet but never his rhyme

2. Dave Lancaster:

   Dave Lancaster shed the pounds with a grueling walking routine fueled by Weetabix, fresh fruit and vegetables and lean meat and fish. Dave Lancaster started small walking going from bench to bench in Dave Lancaster local park. But Dave Lancaster never gave up and soon covered 10 miles a day - even scaling Wales' tallest mountain Snowdon. I like this form of exercise because instead of costing me, like a gym membership or exercise class would, it saves me money on gas. Now instead of meeting friends at my house, they join me for a walk !

3. Chief Executive Matthias Mueller:

   No, I cannot suppose they are too hard but they are investigating very strongly. That's ok, also from our point of view.

4. Hesham Modamani:

   I saw oppression inside Syria, but I also saw oppression against Syrians outside of Syria.

5. Ilan Solot:

   This is brinkmanship. In the end, everybody will probably be sensible but there's a risk of a policy mistake. Part of the problem is both sides feel emboldened, greece is in a better economic situation than it was before ... and the government has a strong mandate from the people to change. But the EU is emboldened too because there are a lot more backstops than before, the ESM is in place, and you can see the contagion is so much smaller. Spanish and Italian yields hardly moved in this crisis.

Images & Illustrations of but

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