but

  • conjunction 1 nevertheless. 2 on the contrary. 3 with negative or in questionsother than; otherwise than. 4 with negativearchaic without it being the case that.

  • preposition except; apart from.

  • adverb 1 only. 2 Austral./NZ, N. English, & Scottish informal though, however: he was a nice bloke but.

  • noun an objection.

  — PHRASES but for 1 except for. 2 if it were not for. but then on the other hand.

  — USAGE On starting a sentence with but, see the note at AND.

  — ORIGIN Old English, outside, without, except.

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