but what

phrase

: that … not

—used to indicate possibility or uncertainty

I don't know but what I will go.

Examples of but what in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Decades of riffing onstage had conditioned her not to dwell on whether a performance had bombed, but what about a rant as a tour guide? — Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026

The brightness matters for HDR content, sure, but what really makes OLED stand out is per-pixel illumination—meaning each pixel can turn on or off independently. — ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026

Police quickly identified her husband as the prime suspect, but what could drive a seemingly normal man to perform such a vile act? — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026

Roller coasters are designed to deliver thrills through sudden drops, sharp turns and rapid changes in speed, but what kinds of injuries can these forces cause? — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for but what

• abut
• catgut
• chesnut
• chestnut
• donut
• doughnut
• groundnut
• haircut
• hindgut
• midgut
• precut
• rebut