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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

but

/bʌt/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does but mean?

preposition

  1. Apart from, except (for), excluding.
  2. Outside of.

adverb

  1. (literary) Merely, only, just, no more than.
More meanings (18)

adverb

  1. Though, however.
  2. Used to repeat an adverb for emphasis; simply; just; absolutely.

conjunction

  1. However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence).
  2. On the contrary, rather (as a regular adversative conjunction, introducing a word or clause in contrast or contradiction with the preceding negative clause or sentence).
  3. Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.
  4. Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, (archaic) with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".
  5. Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier.
  6. (archaic) Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).
  7. (obsolete) Except with; unless with; without.
  8. (obsolete) Only; solely; merely.
  9. (obsolete) Until.
  10. (obsolete) That.

noun

  1. An instance of using the word "but"; an objection or caveat.
  2. The outer room of a small two-room cottage.
  3. A limit; a boundary.
  4. The end; especially the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end; the butt.

proper noun

  1. A surname.

verb

  1. (archaic, humorous, rare) Use the word "but".
Wiktionary contributors Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/bʌt/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it.
Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural AddressProject Gutenberg ebook #8
There was no label this time with the words “DRINK ME,” but nevertheless she uncorked it and put it to her lips.
Lewis CarrollAlice's Adventures in WonderlandProject Gutenberg ebook #11
More book examples (3)
The government's past economic diversification efforts have moderated the severity of the downturn but failed to offset oil and gas revenue losses.
United States. Central Intelligence AgencyThe 1990 CIA World FactbookProject Gutenberg ebook #14
“Bring in the whole world. But I refuse to allow that dog to lord it in my nursery for an hour longer.”
J. M. (James Matthew) BarriePeter Pan : $b [Peter and Wendy]Project Gutenberg ebook #16
She would soon begin, not only to lose confidence in her neighbors, but also to feel a disposition equally unfavorable to them.
Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; James MadisonThe Federalist PapersProject Gutenberg ebook #18