Definition of all but
:very nearly :almost
- would be all but impossible
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all but
adverb
From the M-W Editors
Examples of all but in a Sentence
Without you the job would have been all but impossible.
We had all but given up hope.
First Known Use of all but
1590
all but Synonyms
Synonyms
about, almost, borderline, fair [chiefly British], fairly, feckly [chiefly Scottish], more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, somewhere, virtually, well-nighRelated Words
appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly; kind of, partially, partly, somewhatNear Antonyms
absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, thoroughly; totally, utterly, well, wholly; barely, hardly, scarcelyALL BUT Defined for English Language Learners
all but
adverb
Definition of all but for English Language Learners
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: very nearly
ALL BUT Defined for Kids
all but
adverb
Definition of all but for Students
:very nearly :almost
- “He is all but forgotten.”
- —William H. Armstrong, Sounder
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