Word
but
US/ˈbət/
UK/bˈʌt/
Adverb of degree
Definitions
01contrast
A1 · Beginner
conj. used to introduce a statement that is different from what you just said.
conj. used to introduce a clause that contrasts with or contradicts the preceding statement.
“I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.”
“The initial results of the study were promising, but the research team cautioned that further peer-reviewed trials were necessary before drawing conclusions.”
Synonyms
02except
B1 · Intermediate
prep. used to mean 'except' or 'apart from'.
prep. used to indicate an exception to a preceding general statement, often following negative or universal quantifiers like 'no one' or 'everyone'.
“Everyone in the office attended the meeting but the manager.”
“The committee found no alternative but to postpone the project until the necessary funding could be secured through private investment.”
Antonyms
03only
C1 · Advanced Literary
adv. used to mean 'only' or 'just'.
adv. used as a restrictive adverb meaning 'merely' or 'no more than'.
“He is but a child and does not understand the rules yet.”
“The grand cathedral, once a symbol of imperial power, was now but a crumbling ruin reclaimed by the surrounding forest.”
04though
C1 · Advanced British English · Dialect
adv. used at the end of a sentence to mean 'however'.
adv. used as a sentence-final conjunctive adverb to indicate a contrast with a previous statement.
“It was a very expensive car, but.”
“The weather was miserable for the entire trip; we had a great time, but.”
Usage
In certain dialects, particularly in Scotland and Northern England, 'but' is placed at the end of a clause for emphasis or contrast.
05an objection
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a reason for not doing something or a doubt.
n. an objection, caveat, or condition, typically used in the plural phrase 'no ifs, ands, or buts'.
“I want you to finish your homework now—no buts.”
“The contract was signed without any 'buts' from the legal department, much to the relief of the negotiating team.”
Grammar
For Spanish speakers
Pronunciation Spanish has no /ʌ/. Speakers substitute the nearer /a/ or /e/ of 'pero', rendering 'but' as /bat/ or /bet/.
Grammar Spanish renders restrictive 'only' with 'sólo' or 'solamente', so the adverbial 'but' (meaning 'only') goes unrecognized. Fixed frames such as 'cannot but' and 'is but a' correspond to 'no puede sino' and 'no es más que', which do not map word-for-word onto the conjunction.
For Mandarin speakers
Grammar Mandarin often uses the paired structure '虽然...但是...' (suīrán... dànshì...), leading learners to include both 'although' and 'but' in a single English sentence, creating a redundant double-conjunction error like 'Although it was raining, but he went out.'
Collocations The Mandarin phrase '不是...而是...' (bùshì... érshì...) often leads to the misuse of 'but' to replace 'rather' or 'instead' in contrastive contexts where English requires specific adverbial structures.
For Japanese speakers
Grammar Japanese syntax allows conjunctions like 'but' at the start of a sentence or as a sentence-final particle (e.g., 〜けど ~kedo) to soften a statement. This leads speakers to frequently start sentences with 'But...' in formal writing or end sentences with 'but' to imply hesitation, which reads as unfinished in English.
Collocations The Japanese construction 'A ではなく B' (A dewa naku B) translates to 'Not A but B'. Because the Japanese particle 'wa' emphasizes the contrast, speakers often over-insert 'but' into sentences where a simple 'not' or a different connective would be more natural in English.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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