but

however, nevertheless, still, except: She could do nothing but cry.; on the contrary, yet: My sister got dessert but it was not what she ordered.
Not to be confused with:butt – the end or extremity of anything: the butt of a pistol; an end that is not consumed: a cigarette butt; a person who is an object of ridicule; a victim, target: the butt of a joke; to strike or push with the head or horns: Goats like to butt their heads against each other.

but

B0577100 (bŭt; bət when unstressed) conj. 1. On the contrary: the plan caused not prosperity but ruin. 2. Contrary to expectation; yet: She organized her work but accomplished very little. He is tired but happy. 3. Usage Problem Used to indicate an exception: No one but she saw the prowler. 4. With the exception that; except that. Often used with that: would have joined the band but he couldn't spare the time; would have resisted but that they lacked courage. 5. Informal Without the result that: It never rains but it pours. 6. Informal That. Often used after a negative: There is no doubt but right will prevail. 7. That ... not. Used after a negative or question: There never is a tax law presented but someone will oppose it. 8. Informal Than: They had no sooner arrived but they turned around and left. prep. Usage Problem Except. adv. 1. Merely; just; only: hopes that lasted but a moment. 2. Used as an intensive: Get out of here but fast! n. A concern or objection: My offer is final, no ifs, ands, or buts. Idiom: but for Were it not for: except for: We would have reached the summit but for the weather.

[Middle English, from Old English būtan; see ud- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] Usage Note: Should it be No one but I has read it or No one but me has read it? The traditional argument for I is that but is a conjunction in these sentences, coordinating the two parallel subjects of read ("no one" and the speaker), and thus should be followed by the subjective form I. A problem for this analysis is that the objective form me is appropriate when the but phrase occurs at the end of a sentence, as in No one has read it but me. In fact, but is a preposition in both of these constructions. If but were truly a conjunction, the verb would agree in person and number with the noun or pronoun following but, yielding No one but the students have read it, which is clearly wrong. Furthermore, but me in these sentences acts just like a prepositional phrase in being detachable from the rest of its phrase: No one but me has left / No one has left but me is similar to the alternation between John, along with everyone else in the class, left and John left, along with everyone else in the class—both of which contrast with a similar sentence using a conjunction such as and: one can say John and everyone else in the class left, but not John left and everyone else in the class. For these reasons but should be treated as a preposition in these constructions, taking the objective pronouns me and them in all positions. A large majority of the Usage Panel agreed with this analysis in our 2016 survey; only 46 percent accepted No one has read it but I and only 36 accepted No one but I has read it, whereas at least 92 percent accepted the same sentences with me. · But is generally not followed by a comma. Correct written style requires Kim wanted to go, but we stayed, not Kim wanted to go, but, we stayed. · Some people believe that but may not be used to begin a sentence, but in fact this usage is acceptable in all levels of style. See Usage Notes at and, cannot, doubt, however, I¹.

but

(bʌt; unstressed bət) conj (coordinating) 1. contrary to expectation: he cut his knee but didn't cry. 2. in contrast; on the contrary: I like opera but my husband doesn't. 3. (usually used after a negative) other than: we can't do anything but wait. conj (subordinating) 4. (usually used after a negative) without it happening or being the case that: we never go out but it rains. 5. (foll by that) except that: nothing is impossible but that we live forever. 6. archaic if not; unlesssentence connectorinformal used to introduce an exclamation: my, but you're nice. prep7. except; save: they saved all but one of the pigs. 8. but for were it not for: but for you, we couldn't have managed. adv9. just; merely; only: he was but a child; I can but try. 10. informal Scot and Austral and NZ though; however: it's a rainy day: warm, but. 11. all but almost; practically: he was all but dead when we found him. nan objection (esp in the phrase ifs and buts)[Old English būtan without, outside, except, from be by + ūtan out; related to Old Saxon biūtan, Old High German biūzan]

but

(bʌt) n (Architecture) the outer room of a two-roomed cottage: usually the kitchenprep, adv (Architecture) in or into the outer part (of a house). Compare ben¹[C18: from but (adv) outside, hence, outer room; see but¹]

but

(bʌt; unstressed bət)

conj. 1. on the contrary: My brother went, but I did not. 2. and yet; nevertheless: strange but true. 3. except; save: did nothing but complain. 4. without the circumstance that: It never rains but it pours. 5. otherwise than: There is no hope but by prayer. 6. that (used esp. after doubt, deny, etc., with a negative): I don't doubt but you'll do it. 7. that … not: No leaders ever existed but they were optimists. 8. (used to introduce an exclamatory expression): But that's wonderful! 9. Informal. than: It no sooner started raining but it stopped. prep. 10. with the exception of: No one replied but me. 11. other than: nothing but trouble. adv. 12. only; just: There is but one answer. n. 13. buts, reservations or objections: You'll do as you're told, no buts about it. Idioms: but for, except for; were it not for. [before 900; Middle English buten, Old English būtan for phrase be ūtan on the outside, without] usage: 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. When 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 and, doubt, than.

but

You use but to introduce something that contrasts with what you have just said.

1. used to link clauses

But is usually used to link clauses.

It was a long walk but it was worth it.I try to understand, but I can't.

You can put but at the beginning of a sentence when you are replying to someone, or writing in a conversational style.

'Somebody wants you on the telephone.' 'But nobody knows I'm here.'I always thought that. But then I'm probably wrong.2. used to link adjectives or adverbs

You can use but to link adjectives or adverbs that contrast with each other.

We stayed in a small but comfortable hotel.Quickly but silently she ran out of the room.3. used with negative words to mean 'only'

But is sometimes used after negative words such as nothing, no-one, nowhere, or none. A negative word followed by but means 'only'. For example, 'We have nothing but carrots' means 'We only have carrots'.

John had lived nowhere but the farm.He cared about no one but himself.4. meaning 'except'

But is also used after all and after words beginning with every- or any-. When but is used after one of these words, it means 'except'. For example, 'He enjoyed everything but maths' means 'He enjoyed everything except maths'.

There was no time for anything but work.Could anyone but Wilhelm have done it?

Thesaurus

Adv.

but - 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"just, merely, only, simply

but

conjunction yet, however, though, although, nevertheless, even so, all the same, for all that, in spite of that, despite that, be that as it may You are awful. But I like you.1. however, still, yet, nevertheless 'But,' he added, 'the vast majority must accept a common future.'preposition1. except (for), save, bar, barring, excepting, other than, excluding, omitting, with the exception of He was forced to wind up everything but the hotel business.adverb1. only, just, simply, merely St Anton is but a snowball's throw away from Lech.

but

adverbTo the exclusion of anyone or anything else:alone, entirely, exclusively, only, solely.

Translations

但是除...之外

but

(bat) conjunction used to show a contrast between two or more things. John was there, but Peter was not.但是 preposition except (for). no-one but me; the next road but one.除...之外

but

→ 但是zhCN

but

See:

(all) skin and bones
(but) not in the biblical sense
(but) still and all
(but) that's another story
a poor thing but mine own
all but
all in the Kool-Aid but don't know the flavor
all over but the shouting
all over but the shouting, it's
all very fine
all very well
all very well/fine but...
an oldie but (a) goodie
anything but
beg your pardon, but
begging your pardon, but (something)
Better late than never
bloodied but unbowed
bloody but unbowed
but for
but for (someone)
but for (something)
but for somebody/something
but good
but hey
but seriously, folks
but that's just me
but then
but who's counting
But, hey
but-boy
can but
cannot but
cannot choose but
cannot help but
can't but
can't help
can't help but (do something)
can't help but do
can't help but notice (that) (something)
Christmas comes but once a year
close but no cigar
close but no cigar, (it was)
Close, but no cigar
dictated but not read
everything but the kitchen sink
everything but/bar the kitchen sink
everything from soup to nuts
far be it from me to (do something)
far be it from me to do something, but...
feel for
Fire is a good servant but a bad master
gone but not forgotten
he who begins many things finishes but few
He who begins many things, finishes but few
Hope for the best and prepare for the worst
hope for the best but expect the worst
hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper
I beg your pardon, but (something)
I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you
I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you
I don't want to alarm you, but
I don't want to sound like a busybody, but
I don't want to upset you, but
I know you are but what am I
ifs and/or buts
ifs, ands, or buts
in all but name
it is not work that kills, but worry
It never rains but it pours
it's all over but the shouting
it's not what you know but who you know
it's one thing to (do something), it's another to (do something else)
last but not least
Little thieves are hanged, but great ones escape
Little thieves are hanged, but great ones escape.
lose the battle, but win the war
Many are called but few are chosen
many are called, but few are chosen
March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb
mills of the gods grind slowly(, but they grind exceedingly fine)
mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken
naughty but nice
never marry for money, but marry where money is
no buts
no buts (about it)
no ifs and buts (about it)
no ifs or buts
no ifs or buts (about it)
no ifs, ands, or buts
no ifs, ands, or buts (about it)
no ifs, ands, or buts and no buts about it
None but the brave deserve the fair
not only (something), but (also) (something else)
not only... but...
not with a bang but a whimper
not with a bang but with a whimper
nothing but
nothing but skin and bones
nothing but skin and bones and skin and bones
nothing is certain but death and taxes
nothing is certain but the unforeseen
nothing so bad but (it) might have been worse
Nothing so bad but might have been worse
oldie but goodie
opportunity knocks but once
poor but clean
put your faith in God, but keep your powder dry
put your trust in God, but keep your powder dry
sadder and/but wiser
sadder but wiser
separate but equal
short but sweet
silent but deadly
skin and bones
skin and bones, (nothing but)
slow but sure
slowly but surely
speech is silver, but silence is golden
spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, the
sticks and stones may break my bones (but words will never hurt me)
sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me
take a licking but keep on ticking
talk the talk and walk the walk
thanks but no thanks
Thanks, but no thanks
the best of men are but men at best
the cat would eat fish, but would not wet her feet
the dogs bark, but the caravan goes on
the lights are on but no one is at home
the lights are on but nobody's home
The lights are on, but nobody's home
the mills of God grind slowly(, but they grind exceedingly fine)
the mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
the spirit is willing, but the/(one's) body is weak
the spirit is willing, but the/(one's) flesh is weak
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth
then again
There but for the grace of God
there but for the grace of God (go I)
there but for the grace of God go I
there's nothing (else) for it (but to do something)
to name (but) a few
trust in Allah, but tie up your camel
trust in God, but keep your powder dry
trust in God, but tie up your camel
trust, but verify
wearing nothing but a smile
what do I know
win the battle, but lose the war
you can dish it out, but you can't take it
you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink
you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink
you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink
you can run, but you can't hide
you can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink
you can take/lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink
Young men may die, but old men must die

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Synonyms for but

conj yet

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conj however

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prep except (for)

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adv only

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Synonyms for but

adv to the exclusion of anyone or anything else

Synonyms

Synonyms for but

adv and nothing more

Synonyms