but
[conjunction]
Synonyms:
- however, further, moreover, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, yet
[preposition]
Synonyms:
- except, bar, barring, excepting, excluding, notwithstanding, save, with the exception of
[adverb]
Synonyms:
- only, just, merely, simply, singly, solely

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English Thesaurus: but, although, however, nevertheless/nonetheless, whereas, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. but¹ S1 W1 /bət; strong bʌt/ conjunction
[Language: Old English; Origin: butan 'outside, without, except']

1. used to connect two statements or phrases when the second one adds something different or seems surprising after the first one:
It’s an old car, but it’s very reliable.
They rushed to the hospital, but they were too late.
We’ve invited the boss, but she may decide not to come.
an expensive but extremely useful book
‘Has he got any experience?’ ‘No, but he’s keen to learn.’

2. used to introduce a statement that explains why the thing you have mentioned did not happen or is not possible:
I’d like to go but I’m too busy.
They would have married sooner, but they had to wait for her divorce.

3. used after a negative to emphasize that it is the second part of the sentence that is true:
He lied to the court not just once, but on several occasions.
The purpose of the scheme is not to help the employers but to provide work for young people.

4. except:
What can we do but sit and wait?
I had no choice but to accept the challenge.
Not a day goes by but I think of dear old Larry (=I think of him every day).

5. but for
a) used when you are saying that something would have happened if something or someone else had not prevented it:
But for these interruptions, the meeting would have finished earlier.
The score could have been higher but for some excellent goalkeeping by Simon.
I might never have got to university but for you.
b) except for something or someone:
All was silent but for the sound of the wind in the trees.

6. but then (again) spoken
a) used when you are adding a statement that says almost the opposite of what you have just said:
John might be ready to help us, but then again, he might not.
You feel really sorry for him. But then again, it’s hard to like him.
b) used when you are adding a statement that makes what you have just said seem less surprising:
Dinah missed the last rehearsal, but then she always was unreliable, wasn’t she?

7. spoken used when you are replying to someone and expressing strong feelings such as anger, surprise etc:
But that’s marvellous news!
‘They won’t even discuss the problem.’ ‘But how stupid!’

8. somebody cannot but do something formal used to say that someone has to do something or cannot stop themselves from doing it:
I could not but admire her.

9. spoken used when disagreeing with someone:
‘It was a good idea.’ ‘But it didn’t work.’

10. spoken used to emphasize a word or statement:
It’ll be a great party – everyone, but everyone, is coming.
They’re rich, but I mean rich.

11. spoken used to change the subject of a conversation:
But now to the main question.
But tell me, are you really planning to retire?

12. spoken used after expressions such as ‘Excuse me’ and ‘I’m sorry’:
Excuse me, but I’m afraid this is a no-smoking area.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. but² S2 W3 preposition

1. apart from Synonym : except:
I could come any day but Thursday.
There’s no one here but me.
I could still see nothing but the spirals of desert dust.
He was unable to swallow anything but liquids.

2. the last but one/the next but two etc especially British English 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).

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. but³ S2 W3 adverb
only:
This is but one example of what can happen when things go badly wrong.
It’s going to be difficult. Anyway, we can but try.
We have relationships of many different sorts – with our children, our parents, our boss and our friends, to name but a few.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

IV. but⁴ /bʌt/ noun
buts [plural] spoken reasons that someone gives for not doing something or agreeing with something:
‘I don’t want to hear any buts,’ Jo snapped.
He is the best player – no ifs, ands, or buts about that.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

but
conjunction
BAD: Although I enjoyed my stay in the USA, but I was still glad to come home.
GOOD: Although I enjoyed my stay in the USA, I was still glad to come home.
GOOD: I enjoyed my stay in the USA, but I was still glad to come home.

Usage Note:
If the first clause begins with although or (even) though, do not begin the second clause with but or yet .
See also SO 2 (so)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

but conjunction used when linking two words or phrases that seem opposite or very different in meaning. Don’t use but at the beginning of a sentence in written English:
The plant’s leaves are big, but its flowers are quite small.
Her books are fascinating but often rather disturbing.
Many French dishes are basically simple, but they can take a long time to prepare.
Most of us value human life, but but some people think of animals as being equally important.
although conjunction used when contrasting one clause with another in the same sentence:
Although you are in the middle of the city, you feel as if you are in the countryside.
The windmill is still in good working order, although it has not been used since the 1950s.
I enjoyed German although I wasn’t very good at it.
Although lack of sleep causes some problems, it has a relatively small effect on performance at work.
however conjunction used when saying something that seems different or surprising after your previous statement. It is usually used in the middle of a sentence, separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. It can also come at the beginning:
Jack and his family managed to escape before the soldiers arrived. Other families in the village, however, were less lucky.
Their economy was incredibly successful in the 1980s. Since then, however, there has been a big rise in unemployment.
The town is a long way from the nearest big city. However, there is a good bus service.
He began his academic career as a mathematician. However, his main achievements were in the field of nuclear physics.
nevertheless/nonetheless conjunction used when saying something that seems different or surprising after your previous statement. It is used at the beginning or end of a sentence:
A series of studies 20 years ago suggested that there was a link between watching violent films and violent behaviour. Nevertheless, the results remain highly controversial.
It was certainly a terrible accident. Nevertheless, air travel is still the safest form of transport.
The weather turned bad early in the day, but the festival was a great success nonetheless.
It was very hard digging in the dry ground, but the work was satisfying nevertheless.
whereas /weərˈæz/
/while conjunction used when making comparisons and saying that something is true of one person, thing, or situation, but it is different for another. They are used when contrasting one clause with another in the same sentence:
Taxes make up 62% of the price of a litre of petrol in France, whereas in Britain, the tax is 75%.
Some people visit their doctor once every few weeks, while others may not visit a doctor for several years.
Whereas in most of the world they drive on the right, in the UK and Japan they drive on the left.
by contrast formal used when making comparisons and saying that a person, thing, or situation is very different from the one you have just mentioned. It is used when referring back to the previous sentence:
The surface temperature on Venus is higher than the boiling point of water. Mars, by contrast, is very cold.
A report by the FBI shows that 26% of female murder victims in 1995 were killed by their husbands or boyfriends. By contrast, only 3% of male victims were killed by their wives or girlfriends.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

except used when saying that a statement does not include a particular person or thing. At the beginning of a sentence, you must use except for, not just except, before a noun:
The office is open every day except Sundays.
Except for a man walking his dog, the park was empty.
Most of the critics liked the play, except for one critic on the 'Los Angeles Times'.
Except for a few years in the early sixties and seventies, inflation has been a continuing feature of American life since World War II.
The area looks very much like the state of Iowa, except that it is surrounded by beautiful snow-covered mountains.
Except in an emergency, these doors must remain closed.
apart from/aside from used when mentioning one or two things that do not fit the main thing that you are saying:
Aside from one or two minor errors, this is an excellent piece of research.
The films were all made in Hollywood, apart from one, which was made in the UK.
The weather was not very good in the first week. Apart from that, it was a good holiday.
excluding/not including used when saying that something, especially a total number or amount, does not include a particular thing or person. Excluding is more formal than not including:
The software costs $49.95, not including tax.
Excluding students, the total number of unemployed rose from 2 million to 2.3 million.
with the exception of formal except for one particular person or thing:
Denmark has more wind turbines than any other place in the world, with the exception of California.
With the exception of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women.
but used especially after words such as nothing, all, any, anyone, everything or everyone when saying that something is the only thing, or someone is the only person:
There is nothing but trees, for mile after mile.
The garment covers everything but the eyes.
All but a few of her family died of the disease.
save formal used for mentioning the only person or thing which is not included in what you are saying:
Every man she had ever loved, save her father, was now dead.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

save to gradually collect money by not spending all the money you have, especially when you regularly put some of it in a bank:
She doesn’t earn much, but she still manages to save a few dollars each week.
We’re saving for a deposit to buy a house.
set/put aside to regularly save part of the money you earn, especially over a long period of time:
You should start setting aside part of your earnings as retirement savings.
scrimp and save to try to save money by spending less on the things you need and by saving what you can, especially when you do not earn very much:
My parents scrimped and saved for years to send me to college.
squirrel something away informal to keep something, especially money, in a safe place to be used later:
I wanted to surprise her, so I squirreled away a couple of dollars a week to spend on a present.
economize to spend less money by buying only the things that you really need, or by buying cheaper things:
Weddings can be expensive, but you can economize by doing some things yourself.
start up/boot up to make a computer start working:
I’m having problems starting up my computer.
log on/in to start using a computer system by typing your name and password:
He logged on and read his emails.
click on something to press a button on a computer mouse to choose a program, file etc from the screen:
When you click on the link, it sends you to the company’s website.
install to add new software to a computer so that the software is ready to be used:
All users should install anti-virus software.
download to move information, pictures, or music from the Internet onto your computer:
You can download MP3 files.
upload to move information, pictures, or music from your computer to a different computer across the Internet:
Sites such as YouTube allow you to upload your own videos.
open to make a file or program ready to use:
Open a new file and type in the information.
scroll up/down to move information on a computer screen up or down so that you can read it:
Scroll down to read the questions and answers.
enter to type information into a computer:
The program requires you to enter a password.
delete to remove information from a computer:
I’ve deleted his email.
When you delete a file, it first gets moved to the recycle bin.
cut and paste to remove information from one place and put it in another place:
Tutors are looking out for students who cut and paste their essays from the Internet.
save to make a computer keep the work that you have done on it:
Make sure you save any work you do before you shut the computer down.
close to stop having a file or program ready to use:
To close the window, click on the ‘X’ in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
log off/out to stop using a computer system by giving it particular instructions:
I get an error message when I log off.
shut down to make a computer stop working:
Employees should shut their computers down at the end of each day.
restart/reboot to make a computer start working again:
Wait a few minutes before rebooting your computer.
except used when saying that a statement does not include a particular person or thing. At the beginning of a sentence, you must use except for, not just except, before a noun:
The office is open every day except Sundays.
Except for a man walking his dog, the park was empty.
Most of the critics liked the play, except for one critic on the 'Los Angeles Times'.
Except for a few years in the early sixties and seventies, inflation has been a continuing feature of American life since World War II.
The area looks very much like the state of Iowa, except that it is surrounded by beautiful snow-covered mountains.
Except in an emergency, these doors must remain closed.
apart from/aside from used when mentioning one or two things that do not fit the main thing that you are saying:
Aside from one or two minor errors, this is an excellent piece of research.
The films were all made in Hollywood, apart from one, which was made in the UK.
The weather was not very good in the first week. Apart from that, it was a good holiday.
excluding/not including used when saying that something, especially a total number or amount, does not include a particular thing or person. Excluding is more formal than not including:
The software costs $49.95, not including tax.
Excluding students, the total number of unemployed rose from 2 million to 2.3 million.
with the exception of formal except for one particular person or thing:
Denmark has more wind turbines than any other place in the world, with the exception of California.
With the exception of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women.
but used especially after words such as nothing, all, any, anyone, everything or everyone when saying that something is the only thing, or someone is the only person:
There is nothing but trees, for mile after mile.
The garment covers everything but the eyes.
All but a few of her family died of the disease.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

BUT
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[TahlilGaran] Acronyms and Abbreviations Dictionary ▲