but
/ˈbɐ̞t/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: 6.63 in modern English
5
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
prep
Apart from, except (for), excluding.
prep
conj
However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence).
conj
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).
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "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."
- "In all games but one."
- "Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there."
Etymology
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.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: but, būtan, *biūtan
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈbɐ̞t/