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all but

adverb

Definition of all but

  1. :  very nearly :  almost would be all but impossible

See all but defined for English-language learners

See all but defined for kids

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We're Down With You Being—or Your Being?—a Square
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Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?
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Devilish Words

Examples of all but in a Sentence

  1. Without you the job would have been all but impossible.

  2. 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-nigh
Related Words
appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly; kind of, partially, partly, somewhat
Near Antonyms
absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, thoroughly; totally, utterly, well, wholly; barely, hardly, scarcely

ALL BUT Defined for English Language Learners

all but

adverb

Definition of all but for English Language Learners

  • : very nearly

ALL BUT Defined for Kids

all but

adverb

Definition of all but for Students

  1. :  very nearly :  almost “He is all but forgotten.” — William H. Armstrong, Sounder

Learn More about all but

  1. See words that rhyme with all but Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for all but Nglish: Translation of all but for Spanish speakers

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Words at Play

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We're Down With You Being—or Your Being?—a Square

It's about (you? your?) having your say.

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Devilish Words

Don't blame a word use error on the devil.

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How 'Wonderful' Lost Its Sense of Wonder

A case of semantic bleaching

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Don't Let Reading This Be Another 'Coulda' 'Shoulda' 'Woulda'

PSA: They're three separate words.

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Words of the Year: 1066

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Irregardless

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Examples: all but in a Sentence