Meaning of but | Babel Free

Definitions

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. well well; so; well (used for emphasis)
3. 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).
4. Usage Problem Except.
   Usage Problem
5. expresses surprise
6. Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.
   colloquial
7. A concern or objection: My offer is final, no ifs, ands, or buts.
8. but (restriction)
9. 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".
10. Were it not for: except for: We would have reached the summit but for the weather.
11. first-person singular present indicative of perar
12. Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier.
    colloquial
13. but for, except for; were it not for.
14. Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).
    archaic
15. To the exclusion of anyone or anything else:alone, entirely, exclusively, only, solely.
16. Except with; unless with; without.
    obsolete
17. used to show a contrast between two or more things. John was there, but Peter was not. maar, egter لكن но mas ale aber men αλλάpero aga اما؛ ولی mutta maisאבל लेकिन ali de tetapi en ma, però しかし 그러나 bet bet tetapi maarmen, derimotale مګر، ولی mas dar но, а, однако ale toda ali men แต่ fakat, ama, ancak 但是 але, однак لیکن nhưng mà 但是
18. Only; solely; merely.
    obsolete
19. except (for). no-one but me; the next road but one. behalwe, buiten إلا، باستثناء، ما عدا без senão kromě außer med undtagelse af; på nær; den næste igen (to veje herfra) εκτός απόexcepto peale به جز؛ مگر paitsi saufאלא के अलावा osim kivéve kecuali að frátöldum, nema tranne, eccetto ～のほかには …을 제외하고 išskyrus, be aiznākošais kecuali behalveunntatt, utenz wyjątkiem, oprócz پرته له ، خو senão în afară de кроме okrem razen osim utom ยกเว้น ...-den/dan başka 除...之外 лише, тільки سوائے trừ ra 除...之外
20. Until.
    obsolete
21. On the contrary: the plan caused not prosperity but ruin.
22. That.
    obsolete
23. Contrary to expectation; yet: She organized her work but accomplished very little. He is tired but happy.
24. Usage Problem Used to indicate an exception: No one but she saw the prowler.
    Usage Problem

Equivalents

Examples

“She is very old but still attractive.”

“She’s welcomed them but been rude to us.”

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

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

“It’s not so much that we don’t wanna go, but I just haven’t time.”

“But I never said you could do that!”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“I cannot but feel offended.”

“My kid does nothing but watch TV all day.”

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

“There is no reason but hath another contrary unto it, saith the wisest party of Philosophers.”

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

“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.”

“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.”

“Wow! But that's amazing!”

“Oh, the engineers would see him sitting in the shade / Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made / People passing by, they would stop and say / "Oh, my, but that little country boy could play"”

“Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet? / Ooh, but they're so spaced out / B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets / Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful / Oh, Bennie, she's really keen”

“"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 […]"”

“It never rains but it pours”

“I never hear this song but I think of you.”

“No arboret with painted blossomes drest, / And smelling sweet, but there it might be found […]”

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

“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.”

“Observe but how their own principles combat one another.”

“a formidable man but to his friends”

“'Tshall not be long but I'll be here again.”

“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.”

““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 […].”

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

CEFR level