except

1 of 3

preposition

ex·​cept ik-ˈsept 

variants or less commonly excepting

ik-ˈsep-tiŋ 

: with the exclusion or exception of

daily except Sundays

except

2 of 3

verb

excepted; excepting; excepts

transitive verb

: to take or leave out from a number or a whole : exclude

intransitive verb

: to take exception : object

exceptive

ik-ˈsep-təv 

adjective

except

3 of 3

conjunction

variants or less commonly excepting

1

: on any other condition than that : unless

except you repent

2

: with this exception, namely

was inaccessible except by boat

3

: only

—often followed by that

I would go except that it's too far

Synonyms

Preposition

• apart from
• aside from
• bar
• barring
• beside
• besides
• but
• except for
• excluding
• exclusive of
• other than
• outside
• outside of
• save
• saving

Verb

• demur
• expostulate
• kick
• object
• protest
• remonstrate (with)

Conjunction

• but
• only
• saving
• yet

Examples of except in a Sentence

Preposition

The stores will be open daily except Sundays.

the store is open daily except Sundays

Verb

Children were excepted from the study.

I must except to your remark that there are no great novelists currently living.

Conjunction

I'd go, except it's too far.

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

At Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, face masks are required in public areas, except when dining or swimming, capacity of public areas will be limited, and housekeeping and public area attendants will increase their cleaning procedures. —Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2020

The city advised all residents to stay inside except those going to and from work and anyone seeking or giving emergency care, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti's official Twitter account. —NBC News, 1 June 2020

Verb

Only two of the aforementioned playoff clashes have happened this century, so Tom Wilson excepted, the history between the teams is more of the yellowed pages variety. —Jerry Beach, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Policies that require vaccination for school entry, excepting legitimate medical exemptions, have historically maintained high immunization rates and protected community health. —Dr. Josh Green, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French excepter, from Latin exceptare, frequentative of excipere to take out, except, from ex- + capere to take — more at heave entry 1

First Known Use

Preposition

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Conjunction

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing except

• except for

Rhymes for except

• accept
• adept
• inept
• precept
• sidestepped
• transept
• windswept
• crept
• kept
• leaped
• leapt
• prepped

Kids Definition

except

1 of 3 preposition

ex·​cept ik-ˈsept 

variants also excepting

ik-ˈsept-iŋ 

1

: not including

daily except Sundays

2

: with the exception of

take no orders except from me

except

2 of 3 verb

: to leave out from a number or a whole : exclude, omit

except

3 of 3 conjunction

variants also excepting

1

: if it were not for the fact that : only

I'd go, except it's too far

2

: with this exception, namely

was impossible to get to except by boat

Etymology

Verb

Middle English excepten "to take or leave out," from early French excepter (same meaning), derived from Latin excipere "to take out," from ex- "out" and capere "to take" — related to accept, capture, intercept

Legal Definition

except

transitive verb

ex·​cept

ik-ˈsept

: to take or leave out (as from insurance coverage or a deed) : exclude

specifically excepted the air carriers and unions from the provisions

—M. A. Kelly

intransitive verb

: object

especially : to file a bill of exceptions or make a formal exception

excepted to the judge's order