except for

preposition

1

: with the exception of

Everyone was gone except for me.

2

: were it not for

except for you I would be dead

Synonyms of except for

• except
• beside
• besides
• other than
• but

Examples of except for in a Sentence

except for newscasts, I hardly watch any television at all

Recent Examples on the Web

Seasons and the Earth's tilt On the equinox, the sun rises almost due east and sets nearly due west for most of the world, except for the North and South poles. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026

All were dressed informally, except for their sky-high show heels. —ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026

The rest stay in a player apartment, except for the few who live locally. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

For the second time in two weeks, Murray offered a proposal to fund all of DHS except for ICE and Customs and Border Protection, but Republicans objected. —Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for except for

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• blastopore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore

Kids Definition

except for

preposition

: with the exception of : but for

all A's except for a B in Latin