But in word usage

The word but is one of the seven coordinating conjunctions in English (the others are and, or, so, for, nor, and yet). It’s used to connect two statements that contrast or contradict each other in some way.

For example, learning English is difficult but fun! But getting into the specifics of such commonly used words can be tricky. This article will answer some questions you may have about how to use but.

When do I use a comma?

According to standard grammar, a comma is used before a coordinating conjunction to connect two independent clauses.

An independent clause is a clause with both a subject and a verb so that it can stand on its own. If the second clause does not contain a subject, then no comma is needed.

• He liked the meal, but not the dessert. (No comma)
• He liked the meal, but didn’t like the dessert. (No comma)
• He liked the meal, but he didn’t like the dessert. (Here, the subject is listed both times, making both clauses independent. A comma is appropriate.)

However, this is a rule that not many native speakers are aware of. Most people will place commas according to where they would naturally make a small pause while speaking.

When do I use “but rather”?

While but can be used to contrast two statements, it can also be used in the construction “not this but that.” For example:

• It wasn’t a drought but more of a dry spell.

This sentence is saying that whatever happened wasn’t a drought. Instead, it was a dry spell. To convey this idea, we use the conjunction but. We could also replace this with the phrase but rather.

• It wasn’t a drought but rather more of a dry spell.

The phrase but rather could also just be a combination of but and rather in their separate usages.

• You’d think he would break up with her face-to-face. But rather than doing that, he decided to do it over the phone. (Here, but is used as a contrast to the previous sentence, not in combination with rather.)

What’s the difference between “but” or “yet”?

But and yet are conjunctions with very similar meanings, and usually, when you can use the word yet, you can replace it with but.

The difference is that yet means something more like “despite that” or “regardless of that.” Grammatically speaking, it has a concessive meaning.

• He’s given her so many red flags, yet she still wants to be with him. (In other words, He’s given her so many red flags. Despite that, she still wants to be with him.)
• I attended every lecture in the class, and yet I still don’t understand anything. (It’s possible to use yet with and, making it more of an adverb than a conjunction.)
• Apparently, she keeps a calendar, yet she always forgets about the plans she makes.

In all these examples, you could probably replace yet with but and still have it make sense.

• He’s given her so many red flags, but she still wants to be with him.
• I attended every lecture in the class, but I still don’t understand anything.
• Apparently, she keeps a calendar, but she always forgets about the plans she makes.

The difference is that but only creates a simple contrast. If you really want to say, “This is true, but none of it really matters because…”, then yet is a much better way to convey that nuance.

When can I use “but” at the beginning of a sentence?

While you may have formally been taught that a sentence can’t begin with a conjunction, the reality is that you can begin any sentence with a conjunction. The two following examples basically mean the same thing:

• I’ll come with you and keep you company if you want. But I’m not going to enjoy it.
• I’ll come with you and keep you company if you want, but I’m not going to enjoy it.

Why make a clause with a conjunction its own separate sentence? It depends on how you like to break up your sentences.

Periods usually convey more of a break between ideas than commas do. You might also want to avoid run-on sentences that use too many commas.

When do I use “but also”?

The phrase but also is similar to but rather, but instead of meaning “not this but that,” it means “not just this but also that.” It’s used to add even more additional information than might be expected.

• They not only spilled beer all over the floor but also broke one of the lamps.
• You’re not just a mother but also a friend.

When using this phrase, be sure to create parallel constructions if you want to be grammatically correct. This means linking phrases of the same kind together.

In the following sentence, the placement of the word only makes it so that it connects nouns together, therefore making it a parallel construction.

• He doesn’t know only Spanish but also Portuguese and Italian.

This next sentence is incorrect because it connects a verb (“to know”) with nouns (“Portuguese and Italian”).

• He not only knows Spanish but also Portuguese and Italian.

When I can I use “but not limited to”?

You can use the phrase including but not limited to when you want to list some items in a category, but you also want to indicate there are many more besides that.

It basically means the same thing as the word including by itself but emphasizes the high amount of things in a given category. Usually, this phrase is found in legal contexts, maybe because the wording is more precise.

• The job involves many tasks, including but not limited to serving customers, checking inventory, cleaning the workspace, and taking phone calls.
• Natural language processing has a wide variety of applications, including but not limited to chatbots, language translation, sentiment analysis, and spell check.
• The book covers many topics, including but not limited to the Civil War, the Reconstruction Era, and Jim Crow laws.

What’s the difference between “but” and “although”?

This question is tricky because although can have two different usages.

The first is to mean “despite the fact that” or “even though,” which is like saying, “What I’m about to say doesn’t really matter.” In this case, the clause that although introduces will usually come before the main clause.

• Although it was scorching outside, we still decided risk sunburns and go hiking.
• Although I had a test the next morning, I decided to go out with my friends and ended up coming home late.

Then there is the second usage of although, which is to mean the same thing as but, except it tends to indicate more of an afterthought rather than a firm contrast.

This is usually when although comes after the main clause, which is how you’ll be able to tell the difference between the two meanings.

• I really didn’t want to go to the show, although it did end up being somewhat interesting. (This can be like saying, Now that I think about it, it was sort of interesting.)
• Mark’s thinking about transferring schools, although I’m not sure why. I thought he liked it here. (Using although instead of but indicates that the main topic is about Mark, not what the speaker thinks.)

If you want to create a contrast or transition between what you were just talking about and a topic that’s just as important, it might be better to use but instead of although, such as in this sentence:

• Mental illness can be difficult or awkward to talk about, but there are many ways we can be supportive.

The main point is not that mental illness is a difficult subject. Instead, the speaker is trying to transition into a topic they want to talk about. This makes but a much more appropriate choice than although.

What’s the difference between “but” and “except”?

Except (that) is another conjunction that means something similar to but, except it indicates more of an exception than a contrast (I just used it now!).

Maybe you want to state something that’s true except for one detail. In that case, except will help you convey that better than but.

• He and I are on good terms, except he still needs to pay me the money he owes.
• We have everything we need for dinner, except that I still need to buy oil.
• A: Everything’s fine, except…

B: Except what?

Don’t confuse this with the phrase except for, which is used as a preposition, not a conjunction. You can only follow it with noun phrases.

• Everyone submitted their entries on time except for him.
• He and I are on good terms, except for the fact that he still needs to pay me the money he owes.

Practice

Time for some practice! The following sentences each have an error in them. Try to spot them and see if you can correct them.

1. It’s not the concerts themselves rather the social experience that I enjoy.
2. I can teach you how to play many genres, including and not limited to jazz, rock, country, and the blues.
3. He drives not only poorly but also can’t park properly.
4. A lot of times, we follow rules, but don’t really understand why.
5. He spent hours and hours more on the painting, but it still looks bad. (What could you replace but with to show that his work was useless?)
6. Overall, the movie was great, but the ending could have been better. (What could you replace but with to indicate more of an exception?)
7. Overall, the movie was great, but the ending could have been better. (What could you replace but with to indicate more of an afterthought?)

Answers:

1. It’s not the concerts themselves but rather the social experience that I enjoy. (You need the whole phrase but rather, not just rather.)
2. I can teach you how to play many genres, including but not limited to jazz, rock, country, and the blues. (“Including and not limited to” is not a standard expression.)
3. He not only drives poorly but also can’t park properly. OR Not only does he drive poorly, but he also can’t park properly. (Either of these makes the sentence a parallel construction.)
4. A lot of times, we follow the rules but don’t really understand why. (The second clause is not an independent clause, so you don’t need to use a comma.)
5. He spent hours and hours more on the painting, yet it still looks bad. (Now, you can tell more how useless his effort was.)
6. Overall, the movie was great, except the ending could have been better. (Now, it’s specified that the ending was really the one thing wrong with the movie.)
7. Overall, the movie was great, although the ending could have been better. (Now, it sounds more like the speaker doesn’t care as much about the ending.)

но, а, однако, зато, кроме, только, кроме, возражение, кто бы не

союз ↓

наречие ↓

предлог ↓

существительное ↓

местоимение ↓

прилагательное ↓

Словосочетания

hopes that last but a moment — надежды, которые длятся лишь мгновение  
no one there but me — никто, кроме меня  
the last but one — предпоследний  
the wine, sweet but headachy — вино, приятное, но от него болит голова  
to be but a few steps — быть рядом, в двух шагах  
but this is well-known — но ведь это всем известно  
beauty is but skin deep — внешность обманчива  
he used to smoke this brand of cigarettes, but he switched — раньше он обычно курил эту марку сигарет, но теперь он перешел на другую  
but yesterday — но вчера  
nothing but — ничего кроме; только; исключительно  
but then (again) — разг. но в то же время  

Примеры с переводом

Возможные однокоренные слова

butter  — масло, сливочное масло, грубая лесть, намазывать маслом, грубо льстить
butting  — предел, граница
butty  — бутерброд, компаньон, товарищ, пайщик по подрядной работе
rebut  — опровергать, отвергать, давать отпор, отражать

You’ll use some terms frequently in your written work. “But” is one of these words: the twenty-second most common word in English, in fact! Consequently, you shouldn’t worry too much about the repetition of “but” in your writing. But if you find yourself using it in every other sentence, you might want to try a few alternatives. How about the following?

Other Conjunctions

“But” is a conjunction (i.e., a linking word) used to introduce a contrast. For example, we could use it in a sentence expressing contrasting opinions about Queen guitarist Brian May and his hairdo:

I like Brian May, but I find his hair ridiculous.

One option to reduce repetition of “but” in writing is to use the word “yet:”

I like Brian May, yet I find his hair ridiculous.

“Yet” can often replace “but” in a sentence without changing anything else, as both are coordinating conjunctions that can introduce a contrast.

Alternatively, you could use one of these subordinating conjunctions:

• Although (e.g., I like Brian May, although I find his hair ridiculous.)
• Though (e.g., I like Brian May, though I find his hair ridiculous.)
• Even though (e.g., I like Brian May, even though I find his hair ridiculous.)

As subordinating conjunctions, these terms can also be used at the start of a sentence. This isn’t the case with “but,” though:

Though I like Brian May, I find his hair ridiculous. – Correct

But I like Brian May, I find his hair ridiculous. – Incorrect

Other subordinating conjunctions used to introduce a contrast include “despite” and “whereas.” If you’re going to use “despite” in place of “but,” you may need to rephrase the sentence slightly. For instance:

Despite liking Brian May, I find his hair ridiculous.

I like Brian May’s guitar solos, whereas I find his hair ridiculous.

How to Use “However”

One common replacement for “but” in academic writing is “however.” But we use this adverb to show a sentence contrasts with something previously said. As such, rather than connecting two parts of a sentence, it should only be used after a semicolon or in a new sentence:

I like Brian May’s guitar solos. However, I find his hair ridiculous.

I like Brian May’s guitar solos; however, I find his hair ridiculous.

“However” can be used mid-sentence, separated by commas. Even then, though, you should separate the sentence in which it appears from the one with which it is being contrasted. For instance:

I like Brian May’s guitar solos. I do, however, find his hair ridiculous.

Here, again, the “however” sentence contrasts with the preceding one.

Other Adverbial Alternatives to “But”

Other contrasting adverbs and adverbial phrases can be used in similar ways to “however” above. Alternatives include:

• Conversely (I like Brian May’s guitar solos. Conversely, I find his hair ridiculous.)
• Nevertheless (I like Brian May; nevertheless, I find his hair ridiculous.)
• In contrast (I like Brian May’s guitar solos. In contrast, I find his hair ridiculous.)

One popular phrase for introducing a contrast is “on the other hand.” In formal writing, though, this should always follow from “on the one hand:”

On the one hand, I like Brian May’s music, so I do admire him. On the other hand, his hairstyle is terrifying, so I do worry about him.

Finally, if you’re ever unsure which terms to use as alternatives to “but” in writing, having your document proofread by the experts can help.

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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.

Eclipsed non-native Middle English mes (“but”) borrowed from Old French mes, mais (> French mais (“but”)).

Pronunciation[edit]

• (stressed, UK) IPA^(key): /bʌt/, [bɐt], enPR: bŭt
• (stressed, US) IPA^(key): /bʌt/, enPR: bŭt
• (stressed, Scotland, Ireland) IPA^(key): /bʊt/
• (stressed, Northern England) IPA^(key): /bʊt/
• (Ireland) IPA^(key): [bɞθ̠]
• (unstressed) IPA^(key): /bət/, enPR: bət
• Rhymes: -ʌt
• Homophone: butt

Preposition[edit]

but

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

   Synonyms: barring, except for, save for; see also Thesaurus:except

   Everyone but Father left early.

   I like everything but that.

   Nobody answered the door when I knocked, so I had no choice but to leave.

   • 2011 October 23, Becky Ashton, “QPR 1-0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport:

     Luiz struggled with the movement of Helguson in the box, as he collected a long ball and the Spaniard barged him over, leaving referee Chris Foy little option but to point to the spot.

2. (obsolete outside Scotland) Outside of.

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

Adverb[edit]

but (not comparable)

1. (chiefly literary or poetic) Merely, only, just, no more than

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:merely

   Christmas comes but once a year.

   • 1791, Robert Burns, «Ae Fond Kiss»:

     For to see her was to love her,
     Love but her, and love for ever.

   • 1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “Economy”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC:

     In those days, when my hands were much employed, I read but little, but the least scraps of paper which lay on the ground, my holder, or tablecloth, afforded me as much entertainment, in fact answered the same purpose as the Iliad.

   • 1975, Monty Python, Monty Python and the Holy Grail

     Black Knight: «‘Tis but a scratch.» King Arthur: «A scratch? Your arm’s off!»

   • 1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York Review Books, 2006, p.49:

     The stony outcrops are often covered but thinly with arable soil; winters are bitingly cold, and rainfall scanty and unpredictable.

   • 1990, Claude de Bèze, 1688 revolution in Siam: the memoir of Father de Bèze, s.j, translated by E. W. Hutchinson, University Press, page 153:

     May the Protector of the Buddhist Faith grant me but seven more days grace of life to be quit of this disloyal couple, father and son.

2. (Australia, Tyneside, conjunctive) Though, however.

   Synonyms: even so, nevertheless, notwithstanding, yet; see also Thesaurus:nevertheless

   • 1906, «Steele Rudd», Back At Our Selection, page 161:

     «Supposin’ the chap ain’t dead, but?» Regan persisted.

   I’ll have to go home early but.

Conjunction[edit]

but

1. 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.

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

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).

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

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

   But I never said you could do that!

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume IV, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book X:

     In reality, I apprehend every amorous widow on the stage would run the hazard of being condemned as a servile imitation of Dido, but that happily very few of our play-house critics understand enough of Latin to read Virgil.

   • 2013 July 19, Ian Sample, “Irregular bedtimes may affect children’s brains”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 34:

     Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits.
     Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found.

   • 2013 June 29, “Travels and travails”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 55:

     Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.

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.

   • 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:

     And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
     From this day to the ending of the world,
     But we in it shall be rememberèd—

   • c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:

     And but my noble Moor is true of mind
     […] it were enough to put him to ill thinking.

   • 1819, John Keats, “Lamia”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, →OCLC, part II, page 43:

     A deadly silence step by step increased,
     Until it seem’d a horrid presence there,
     And not a man but felt the terror in his hair.

   • 1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “Economy”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC:

     In those days, when my hands were much employed, I read but little, but the least scraps of paper which lay on the ground, my holder, or tablecloth, afforded me as much entertainment, in fact answered the same purpose as the Iliad.

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

   Wow! But that’s amazing!

   • 2013 Nora Roberts, Irish Thoroughbred p. 25 (Little, Brown) →ISBN

     «Jakers, but we worked.» With a long breath she shut her eyes. «But it was too much for one woman and a half-grown girl […] «

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

   It never rains but it pours.

   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:

     For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so

7. (obsolete) Except with; unless with; without.

   • 1639, Thomas Fuller, “Unseasonable Discords betwixt King Baldwine and His Mother; Her Strength in Yeelding to Her Sonne”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one of the printers to the Universitie of Cambridge [and sold by John Williams, London], →OCLC, book II, page 84:

     This man unable to manage his own happineſſe, grew ſo inſolent that he could not go, but either ſpurning his equals, or trampling on his inferiours.

8. (obsolete) Only; solely; merely.
9. (obsolete) Until.

   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     ‘Tshall not be long but I’ll be here again.

10. (obsolete, following a negated expression of improbability) That. [16th–19th c.]
    • 1784, Joshua Reynolds, in John Ingamells, John Edgcumbe (eds.), The Letters of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Yale 2000, p. 131:

      It is not impossible but next year I may have the honour of waiting on your Lordship at St. Asaph, If I go to Ireland I certainly will go that way.

    • 1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt 2008, p. 132:

      “I am convinced, if you were to press this matter earnestly upon her, she would consent.”
      “It is not impossible but she might,” said Madame de Seidlits […] .

    • 1813, Journal of Natural Philosophy, July:

      It is not improbable but future observations will add Pliny’s Well to the class of irregular reciprocators.

Usage notes[edit]

• It is generally considered colloquial to use but at the beginning of a sentence, with other conjunctions such as however or although being preferred in formal writing.

  • But this tool has its uses.

  • However, this tool has its uses.

  • Although this tool does have its uses.

Synonyms[edit]

• abbur (Chester)
• (except): bar, unless, excepting, excluding, with the exception of, without
• (however): yet, although, ac

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

but (plural buts)

1. An instance or example of using the word «but».

   It has to be done – no ifs or buts.

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.

Derived terms[edit]

• top and but

Verb[edit]

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

1. (archaic) Use the word «but».

   But me no buts.

Derived terms[edit]

References[edit]

• but at OneLook Dictionary Search
• “but”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Anagrams[edit]

• BTU, TBU, tub

Danish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle Low German butt.

Adjective[edit]

but

1. (rare) blunt

Inflection[edit]

Inflection of but
	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Common singular	but	—	—2
Neuter singular	but	—	—2
Plural	butte	—	—2
Definite attributive1	butte	—	—
1) When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite, the corresponding «indefinite» form is used. 2) The «indefinite» superlatives may not be used attributively.

Synonyms[edit]

• stump

Antonyms[edit]

• spids

French[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle French but (“mark, goal”), from Old French but (“aim, goal, end, target”), from Old French butte (“mound, knoll, target”), from Frankish *but (“stump, log”), or from Old Norse bútr (“log, stump, butt”); both from Proto-Germanic *buttaz (“end, piece”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewd- (“to beat, push”). Cognate with Old English butt (“tree stump”); see butt. The semantic development from «mound» to «target» is likely from martial training practice. The final /t/ is from the old pausal and liaison pronunciation; its (partial) restoration as the basic form may have been reinforced by related butte.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /by/
  • Homophones: bu, bue, bues, bus, bût, buts
• (outside Canada now more often) IPA^(key): /byt/
  • Homophones: bute, butent, butes, bûtes, buts, butte, buttent, buttes

Noun[edit]

but m (plural buts)

1. aim
2. goal (result one is attempting to achieve)
3. (sports) goal (in the place, act, or point sense)

Synonyms[edit]

• fin
• objectif
• dessein
• point

Derived terms[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

From boire.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /by/
• Homophones: bu, bue, bues, bus, bût, buts

Verb[edit]

but

1. third-person singular past historic of boire

Further reading[edit]

• “but”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Indonesian[edit]

Noun[edit]

but (first-person possessive butku, second-person possessive butmu, third-person possessive butnya)

1. (computing) bootstrap (process by which the operating system of a computer is loaded into its memory)

References[edit]

• “but” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Language Development and Fostering Agency — Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic Indonesia, 2016.

Maltese[edit]

Root
b-w-t
3 terms

Etymology[edit]

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /buːt/
• Rhymes: -uːt

Noun[edit]

but m (plural bwiet, diminutive bwejjet or buta or bwejta)

1. pocket
2. (figuratively) money

Middle English[edit]

Noun[edit]

but

1. (Northern) Alternative form of bote (“boot”)

Polish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Old Czech bot, from Old French bot.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /but/
• Rhymes: -ut
• Syllabification: but

Noun[edit]

but m inan (diminutive bucik or butek, augmentative bucior or bucisko)

1. shoe
2. boot

Declension[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• but in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• but in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Romani[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀩𑀳𑀼𑀢𑁆𑀢 (bahutta),^[1] from Sanskrit बहुत्व (bahutva, “much, many, very”).^[1][2] Cognate with Hindi बहुत (bahut).

Adjective[edit]

but (oblique bute)

1. much^[1][2][3][4]
2. many^[1][2][3]

   But rroma mekhle i India thaj gele p-e aver phuva.

   Many Roma left India and went towards other lands.

Descendants[edit]

• Kalo Finnish Romani: buut

Adverb[edit]

but

1. very^[1][4][5]

References[edit]

Romanian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Ottoman Turkish بوت‎ (but).

Noun[edit]

but n (plural buturi)

1. thigh of an animal

Declension[edit]

Scots[edit]

Noun[edit]

but (plural buts)

1. The outer room of a small two-room cottage.

Preposition[edit]

but

1. Outside of, without.

Serbo-Croatian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish بوت‎ (but).

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /bût/

Noun[edit]

bȕt m (Cyrillic spelling бу̏т)

1. thigh
2. ham

Declension[edit]

References[edit]

• “but” in Hrvatski jezični portal

Turkish[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• bud (dialectal)

Etymology[edit]

From Ottoman Turkish بود‎ (bud), بوت‎ (but), from Proto-Turkic *būt. Compare Old Turkic [script needed] (būt).

Noun[edit]

but (definite accusative butu, plural butlar)

1. thigh

Synonyms[edit]

• uyluk

Volapük[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /but/

Noun[edit]

but (nominative plural buts)

1. boot

Declension[edit]

See Also: bustling busty busulfan busway busy busy Lizzie busy signal busybody busyness busywork but butabarbital sodium butadiene butane butanoic acid butanol butanone Butazolidin butch butch haircut butcher Recent searches: View All

Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks. WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023 but1 /bʌt; unstressed bət/USA pronunciation   conj.  on the contrary: My brother went, but I did not. and yet; nevertheless: The story is strange but true (= The story is strange and yet it is true). except: She did nothing but complain (= She did nothing except that she complained). otherwise than: There is no hope but through prayer (= There is no hope other than the hope of prayer). without the (additional) circumstance that: It never rains but it pours (= It never rains without also pouring). No leaders ever existed but they were optimists (= No leaders existed who were not optimists; All leaders who ever existed were optimists). that (used esp. after words like doubt, deny, etc., with a negative word like not): I don’t doubt but you’ll do it. (used to show a feeling of happiness, shock, or surprise about something): But that’s wonderful! But that’s amazing! Informal. than: It no sooner started raining but it stopped. with the exception of: No one replied but me. Everyone but John was there. other than: She is nothing but trouble (= She is nothing other than trouble; she is a lot of trouble). adv. only; just: There is but one answer. n. buts, [plural] objections: You’ll do as you’re told, no buts about it. Idioms Idioms but for, except for; were it not for; if something had not happened or existed:We would still be prisoners there but for the daring rescue by the commandos (= We would still be prisoners if the daring rescue had not happened). WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023 but1  (but; unstressed bət),USA pronunciation conj.  on the contrary; yet:My brother went, but I did not. except; save:She was so overcome with grief she could do nothing but weep. unless; if not; except that (fol. by a clause, often with that expressed):Nothing would do but that I should come in. without the circumstance that:It never rains but it pours. otherwise than:There is no hope but by prayer. that (used esp. after doubt, deny, etc., with a negative):I don’t doubt but he will do it. who not; that not:No leaders worthy of the name ever existed but they were optimists. (used as an intensifier to introduce an exclamatory expression):But she’s beautiful! [Informal.]than:It no sooner started raining but it stopped. but what. See what (def. 31). prep. with the exception of; except; save:No one replied but me. adv. only; just:There is but one God. but for, except for; were it not for:But for the excessive humidity, it might have been a pleasant day. n. buts, reservations or objections:You’ll do as you’re told, no buts about it. Middle English buten, Old English būtan for phrase be ūtan on the outside, without. See by, out bef. 900 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged But, however, nevertheless, still, yet are words implying opposition (with a possible concession). But marks an opposition or contrast, though in a casual way:We are going, but we shall return.However indicates a less marked opposition, but displays a second consideration to be compared with the first:We are going; however(«notice this also»), we shall return. Nevertheless implies a concession, something which should not be forgotten in making a summing up:We are going; nevertheless(«do not forget that»), we shall return. Still implies that in spite of a preceding concession, something must be considered as possible or even inevitable:We have to go on foot; still(«it is probable and possible that»), we’ll get there. Yet implies that in spite of a preceding concession, there is still a chance for a different outcome:We are going; yet(«in spite of all, some day»), we shall return. 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See except 1. 1. But, like and, is a common transitional word and often begins sentences. When it is used in the middle of a sentence as a coordinating conjunction like and or so, it is not followed by a comma unless the comma is one of a pair setting off a parenthetical expression:His political affiliations make no difference, but his lack of ethics does.The cast is nearly complete, but, our efforts notwithstanding, we lack a star.See also and, so1.  2, 11. When but is understood as a conjunction and the pronoun following it is understood as the subject of an incompletely expressed clause, the pronoun is in the subjective case:Everyone lost faith in the plan but she(did not lose faith). In virtually identical contexts, when but is understood as a preposition, the pronoun following it is in the objective case:Everyone lost faith but her.The prepositional use is more common. However, when prepositional but and its following pronoun occur near the beginning of a sentence, the subjective case often appears:Everyone but she lost faith in the plan.See also doubt, than.  but2  (but),USA pronunciation n. [Scot.] Scottish Termsthe outer or front room of a house; the outer or front apartment in an apartment house. Scottish Termsthe kitchen of a two-room dwelling, esp. of a cottage. noun, nominal use of but1 (adverb, adverbial) outside, outside the house 1715–25 but3  (but),USA pronunciation butt5. Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: but /bʌt; (unstressed) bət/ conj (coordinating) contrary to expectation: he cut his knee but didn’t cry in contrast; on the contrary: I like opera but my husband doesn’t (usually used after a negative) other than: we can’t do anything but wait conj (subordinating) (usually used after a negative) without it happening or being the case that: we never go out but it rains (followed by that) except that: nothing is impossible but that we live forever archaic if not; unless sentence connector informal used to introduce an exclamation: my, but you’re nice prep except; save: they saved all but one of the pigs but for ⇒ were it not for: but for you, we couldn’t have managed adv just; merely; only: he was but a child, I can but try Scot Austral NZ informal though; however: it’s a rainy day: warm, but all but ⇒ almost; practically: he was all but dead when we found him n an objection (esp in the phrase ifs and buts) Etymology: Old English būtan without, outside, except, from be by + ūtan out; related to Old Saxon biūtan, Old High German biūzan but /bʌt/ Scot n the outer room of a two-roomed cottage: usually the kitchen prep , adv in or into the outer part (of a house) Compare ben Etymology: 18th Century: from but (adv) outside, hence, outer room; see but1 ‘but‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations): < But / Instead > in real life, it’s impossible to » I’ll take your bet, but I’ll lay it off. « _______ he could see nothing but trees — I _______ the book but when I heard what the critics said I changed my mind. — but this is likely —but so do their better- , but , but , but I also did it happily. , but I have <countless> cousins <, but> I told her to contact Heinz ,but that in itself does not constitute work. ; but abundance fell into the river and were drowne . . . but some see the conflict as a reason to prioritize international alliances . . . which is about preserving . . . but a willingness … but all that was welcoming me was nil … but I was at my grandmother’s place at the time. … but it remains a Cinderella … but rather as the cheapest one… … but, because … … exposed to a lot of grammar and vocabulary, but she doesn’t know how to use it or them? … is not only wrong but [could be] seriously wrong «… not only did his best friend…, but also that he…» «… revealed nothing but ape-like dismissal» … summer but, after 17 games… … was shut because of flooding last night but has since reopened, <…, but he declined> vs. <…, but he refused> …, but he was never cool. …, but in the event we were early. …, but those still in use and those long abandoned more… Look up «but» at Merriam-Webster Look up «but» at dictionary.com In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Advertisements Advertisements Report an inappropriate ad. Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.