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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

but¹ /bʌt; unstressed bət/   conj. 

1. on the contrary:
   My brother went, but I did not.
2. and yet;
   nevertheless:
   The story is strange but true (= The story is strange and yet it is true).
3. except:
   She did nothing but complain (= She did nothing except that she complained).
4. otherwise than:
   There is no hope but through prayer (= There is no hope other than the hope of prayer).
5. 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).
6. that (used esp. after words like doubt, deny, etc., with a negative word like not):
   I don't doubt but you'll do it.
7. (used to show a feeling of happiness, shock, or surprise about something): But that's wonderful! But that's amazing!
8. Informal. than:
   It no sooner started raining but it stopped.
9. with the exception of:
   No one replied but me. Everyone but John was there.
10. other than: She is nothing but trouble (= She is nothing other than trouble;
    she is a lot of trouble).

adv. 

11. only;
    just:
    There is but one answer.

n. 

12. buts, [plural] objections:
    You'll do as you're told, no buts about it.

Idioms

13. 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 © 2025

but¹  (but; unstressed bət), conj. 

1. on the contrary;
   yet:
   My brother went, but I did not.
2. except;
   save:
   She was so overcome with grief she could do nothing but weep.
3. unless;
   if not;
   except that (fol. by a clause, often with that expressed):
   Nothing would do but that I should come in.
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 he will do it.
7. who not;
   that not:
   No leaders worthy of the name ever existed but they were optimists.
8. (used as an intensifier to introduce an exclamatory expression):
   But she's beautiful!
9. [Informal.] than:
   It no sooner started raining but it stopped.
10. but what. See what (def. 31).

prep. 

11. with the exception of;
    except;
    save:
    No one replied but me.

adv. 

12. only;
    just:
    There is but one God.
13. but for, except for;
    were it not for:
    But for the excessive humidity, it might have been a pleasant day.

n. 

14. 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

Synonyms

• 1. 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 except ¹.

Usage

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), n. [Scot.]

1. Scottish Terms the outer or front room of a house;
   the outer or front apartment in an apartment house.
2. Scottish Terms the 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), 

1. butt⁵.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

but / bʌt (unstressed) bət/ conjunction (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

conjunction (subordinating)

1. (usually used after a negative) without it happening or being the case that: we never go out but it rains
2. (followed by that) except that: nothing is impossible but that we live forever
3. if not; unless

sentence_connector

1. used to introduce an exclamation: my, but you're nice

preposition

1. except; save: they saved all but one of the pigs
2. but for ⇒ were it not for: but for you, we couldn't have managed

adverb

1. just; merely; only: he was but a child, I can but try
2. though; however: it's a rainy day: warm, but
3. all but ⇒ almost; practically: he was all but dead when we found him

noun

1. 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/ noun

1. the outer room of a two-roomed cottage: usually the kitchen

preposition , adverb

1. in or into the outer part (of a house)
   Compare ben1

Etymology: 18th Century: from but (adv) outside, hence, outer room; see but¹