but

Meaning

Prep

1. Apart from, except (for), excluding.
2. Outside of.

Adv

1. (literary, not-comparable, poetic) Merely, only, just, no more than
2. (Australia, Geordie, Scotland, conjunctive, not-comparable) Though, however.

Conj

1. However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence).
2. 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).
3. (colloquial) Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.
4. Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, (archaic) with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".
5. (colloquial) Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier.
6. (archaic) Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).
7. (obsolete) Except with; unless with; without.
8. (obsolete) Only; solely; merely.
9. (obsolete) Until.
10. (obsolete) That.

Noun

1. An instance of using the word "but"; an objection or caveat.
2. (Scotland) 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.

Verb

Use the word "but".

Synonyms

however

yet

except

and

nevertheless

only

still

just

or

though

although

merely

then

unless

without

save

other than

simply

besides

on the other hand

rather

apart from

whereas

while

even so

notwithstanding

otherwise

on the contrary

if

now

how

instead

and yet

except for

at the same time

than

surely

solely

therefore

in addition

well

also

howbeit

additionally

exclusively

excluding

but rather

for all that

having said that

maybe not

Translations

mais

pero

aber

ma

però

sondern

maar

sino

jedoch

cependant

ama

αλλά

sauf

nur

außer

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bʌt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: but

Inherited from Old English: būtan

Cognate with Scots: but

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: buute

Cognate with Western Frisian: bûten

Cognate with Dutch: buiten

Cognate with German: baußen

Cognate with Luxembourgish: baussen

In summary

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.

Sentences

But it was never actually true’.

But I needed to hear that message .

But that was simply because my eye was tired .

But , if you can , try to make your own decisions .

But horses tire bit by bit .

Take shelter in this tent , but keep still .