but

but
1 conjunction strong /bVt/
1 in spite of something, or not as you would expect: The situation looked desperate but they didn't give up hope. | The car was very cheap but it's been extremely reliable.
2 used to add another statement to one that you have already made, to say that both things are true: These changes will cost quite a lot, but they will save us money in the long run. | an expensive but immensely useful book
3 used like however, to explain why something did not happen, why you did not do something etc: He would have won easily, but he fell and broke his leg. | I'd like to go but I'm too busy.
4 used after a negative to emphasize that it is the second part of the sentence that it is true: They own not one but three houses. | The purpose of the scheme is not to help the employers but to provide work for young people. | no choice/alternative etc but to...: We had no alternative but to fire him. | no question/doubt but that... (=used to say that you are sure that something is true): There's no doubt but that Evans is guilty.
5 but for without: But for these interruptions the meeting would have finished half an hour ago.
6 but then (again) spoken
a) used before a statement that makes what you have just said seem less true, useful, or valuable: We could ask John to help again, but then I don't want to bother him.
b) used before a statement that may seem surprising, to say that it is not really surprising: Apparently Dinah hasn't been to work all week, but then she always was unreliable wasn't she?
7 used to express strong feelings such as anger, surprise etc: But that's marvellous news!
8 you cannot but.../you could not but... formal used to say that you have to do something or cannot stop yourself from doing it: I could not but admire her.
9 used to emphasize a word or statement: It'll be a great party - everyone, but everyone, is coming.
10 used to change the subject of a conversation: But now to the main question.
11 (usually in negatives) literary used to emphasize that a statement includes every single person or thing: Not a day goes by but that I think of Geoff. (=I think of Geoff every day)
USAGE NOTE: BUT WORD CHOICE: but, however But is very frequent in spoken English, where it is often used at the beginning of a sentence: "I read it in a newspaper." "But newspapers aren't always right!" But is also used in writing, though not usually at the beginning of a sentence. However is used especially in more formal writing, often with commas before and after it in the middle of a sentence: This had been reported in a newspaper. One must remember, however, that newspapers are not always accurate. GRAMMAR But or however is never used in a main clause beside another clause with although: Although they're very busy, I think they enjoy it (NOT ... but/however I think they enjoy it). You can begin a clause with but although, or however although: I tried doing the accounts, but although I know some maths I found it very difficult (=and I know some maths but I still found it difficult). 2 preposition
1 apart from; except: What can we do but sit and wait? | I could come any day but Thursday. | nothing but (=used when talking about a bad quality or situation to emphasize how bad it is): This car's been nothing but trouble. | anything but (=used to say that a person or situation does not have a good quality): Those receptionists are anything but helpful.
2 the last but one/the next but two etc especially BrE the last or next thing or person except for one, two etc: Pauline and Derek live in the next house but one. (=they live two houses away from us)
3 adverb
1 especially literary only: You can but try.
2 AmE spoken used to emphasize what you are saying: Go there but fast! | They're rich, but I mean rich!
4 noun no buts (about it) spoken used to say that there is no doubt about something: No buts, you are going to school today!

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • but — but …   Dictionnaire des rimes

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  • but — 1. general. But is a preposition and conjunction, and is used contrastively: (preposition) Everyone seems to know but me / (conjunction) Everyone seems to know but I don t. In more modern usage, as the OED and Fowler (1926) have both recognized,… …   Modern English usage

  • But — (b[u^]t), prep., adv. & conj. [OE. bute, buten, AS. b[=u]tan, without, on the outside, except, besides; pref. be + [=u]tan outward, without, fr. [=u]t out. Primarily, b[=u]tan, as well as [=u]t, is an adverb. [root]198. See {By}, {Out}; cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • But if — But But (b[u^]t), prep., adv. & conj. [OE. bute, buten, AS. b[=u]tan, without, on the outside, except, besides; pref. be + [=u]tan outward, without, fr. [=u]t out. Primarily, b[=u]tan, as well as [=u]t, is an adverb. [root]198. See {By}, {Out};… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • but — but·ler; but·ler·age; but·ler·ite; but·lery; but·ter·bump; but·ter·bur; but·ter·i·ness; but·ter·is; but·ter·less; but·ter·man; but·tle; but·ton·er; but·ton·less; but·tony; but·tress·less; but·ty; hack·but; hack·but·eer; hal·i·but; hal·i·but·er;… …   English syllables

  • but — BUT. s. m. L endroit où l on vise. Viser au but. frapper le but. mettre sur le but. atteindre, toucher le but. donner au but. Il sig. fig. La fin que l on se propose. Je n ay autre but en cela, que &c. c est mon but. se proposer un but. On dit… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • but — but1 [but; ] unstressed [ bət] prep. [ME < OE butan, buton, without, outside; WGmc comp. < * be , *bi ,BY + * utana, from without: see OUT] 1. with the exception of; excepting; save [nobody came but me ]: earlier, and still sometimes,… …   English World dictionary

  • But.fr — BUT Pour les articles homonymes, voir BUT (homonymie). Logo de BUT Création 1972 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • But ! — But ! Pays  France Langue Français Périodicité Hebdomadaire Genre Presse sportive Date de fondation …   Wikipédia en Français

  • But! — But !  But ! {{{nomorigine}}} Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

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