Meaning

10 senses
  1. However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence).

    She is very old but still attractive.

    She’s welcomed them but been rude to us.

    aber, aber trotzdem

    ноno, то́лькоtólʹko, хотя́xotjá

    але́alé

  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).

    I am not rich but [I am] poor. Not John but Peter went there.

    It’s not so much that we don’t wanna go, but I just haven’t time.

    sondern, aber

    аa, ноno

    але́alé, аa

  3. (colloquial)Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.

    But I never said you could do that!

  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".

    I cannot but feel offended.

    My kid does nothing but watch TV all day.

    außer, aber nicht, als

    кро́меkróme, лишьlišʹ

    крімkrim

  5. (colloquial)Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier.

    Wow! But that's amazing!

  6. (archaic)Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).

    It never rains but it pours

    I never hear this song but I think of you.

  7. (obsolete)Except with; unless with; without.

  8. (obsolete)Only; solely; merely.

    nur

    то́лькоtólʹko, лишьlišʹ

  9. (obsolete)Until.

  10. (obsolete)That.

Examples

27184 sentences
  1. Have fun, but don't get lost.

    Розважайся, але на загубись.

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  2. It is nothing but a joke.

    Це лише жарт.

    ruЭто всего лишь шутка.

    deEs ist bloß ein Witz.

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  3. It was nothing but a joke.

    Це був лише жарт.

    ruЭто была всего лишь шутка.

    deEs war nur ein Witz.

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  4. The girl did nothing but cry.

    Дівчина лише й робила, що плакала.

    ruДевочка только и делала, что плакала.

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  5. Excuse me, but I feel sick.

    Перепрошую, але я себе не дуже добре почуваю.

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Translations

9 languages
Українська
By meaning 3
although:
rather:
except:
Русский
By meaning 3
although:
rather:
except:
Deutsch
By meaning 4
although:
rather:
except:
solely, only, merely (obsolete):

Origin

From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside o

From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.

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Synonyms

10 synonyms

Collocations

12 patterns
  • do that but
  • no choice but
  • choice but to
  • couldn't help but
  • choice but
  • nothing but
  • sorry but
  • every day but
  • but no one
  • did nothing but
  • the door but
  • no one but

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
but — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto