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Definition of but preposition from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

but

preposition
 
 
/bət/, strong form
 
/bʌt/
 
/bət/, strong form
 
/bʌt/
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  1. except; apart from
    • We've had nothing but trouble with this car.
    • The problem is anything but easy.
    • Who but Rosa could think of something like that?
    • Everyone was there but him.
    • I came last but one in the race (= I wasn't last but next to last).
    • Take the first turning but one (= not the first one but the one after it).
    Word OriginOld English be-ūtan, būtan, būta ‘outside, without, except’ (see by, out).
See but in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee but in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: but

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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