except

preposition

ex·cept | \ik-ˈsept

variants: or less commonly excepting \ik-ˈsep-tiŋ

Definition of except

(Entry 1 of 3)

: with the exclusion or exception of daily except Sundays

except

verb

excepted; excepting; excepts

Definition of except (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to take exception : object

except

conjunction

variants: or less commonly excepting

Definition of except (Entry 3 of 3)

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

Other Words from except Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about except

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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

The board of education’s regular monthly meetings are 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month except in December, when the meeting will occur on the third Monday. — Jennie Key, Cincinnati.com, "City wins appeal in public records lawsuit," 12 July 2018 Cave rescue specialists have cautioned against that approach except as a last resort, because of the dangers posed by inexperienced people using diving gear. — NBC News, "Thai soccer coach apologizes and boys send love to family in letter from cave," 7 July 2018 Trump’s executive order would keep most families together under the Department of Homeland Security, except in cases where an adult may pose a threat to a child. — Alana Abramson, Time, "President Trump Signs Executive Order to Keep Immigrant Families Together," 20 June 2018 Despite evidence that the losers sometimes got the literal axe, says Miller, some 20th-century archaeologists refused to believe that anyone except the winners were killed. — Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, "Where Did Soccer Start? Archaeology Weighs In.," 15 June 2018 This would make the backstop irrelevant, except as a temporary arrangement until the new relationship was in place. — Simon Nixon, WSJ, "Don’t Underestimate the Risk of a Chaotic Brexit," 13 June 2018 Discharging of fireworks is prohibited except in public displays where a permit is granted. — Staff Report, Post-Tribune, "Community news," 28 June 2018 Casey has done it all except win at TPC River Highlands. — Mike Anthony, courant.com, "Mike Anthony: Paul Casey, Stress Free And Bogey Free, In Perfect Position At Travelers Championship," 24 June 2018 The suit is unlikely to succeed — except in keeping Philippe's name on the radio airwaves during upcoming elections in Haiti. — Jacqueline Charles And Jay Weaver, miamiherald, "Haiti's Guy Philippe still pursuing freedom, and $100 million, despite his guilty plea," 1 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

In our Big 4 games hands are crucial to most of the key players (offensive and defensive linemen generally excepted). — Bob Ryan, BostonGlobe.com, "You don’t have to love soccer to appreciate the greatness of the World Cup," 29 June 2018 But the Westside's streets are gridlocked for hours twice a day, everyday; cycling is often lethal; and excepting main commercial strips and touristy stretches, most of the area's sidewalks are utterly empty. — Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "Fly On, My Sleek Electric Bird," 30 May 2018 And all of the attendees, possibly excepting the guy from DSA, are united by their desire to get a photo of (or long-distance selfie with) Musk, who is mobbed at the stage after the presentation. — Kevin Lincoln, The Verge, "I went to Elon Musk’s Boring Company LA pep rally," 18 May 2018 Congress hasn’t impeached a member of the executive branch (presidents excepted) since the 19th century. — Kimberley A. Strassel, WSJ, "The Real Constitutional Crisis," 24 May 2018 Daniel Slater of the University of Michigan points out that during that period not a single regime met even minimally democratic standards, excepting Thailand’s brief flirtation with democracy in 1973-76, which soon gave way to military rule. — The Economist, "South-East Asia: lots of elections, not so much democracy," 24 May 2018 No one has played more basketball than the Warriors over the past four seasons, excepting the seemingly ageless LeBron James. — Al Saracevic, SFChronicle.com, "After four long years of winning, are the Warriors tired?," 23 May 2018 Who — present company excepted — reads newspapers anymore? — Christopher Arnott, courant.com, "David Lutken Tames a Wild, Woolly 'Will Rogers Follies'," 3 May 2018 Raise the firearm purchase age to 21, excepting members of the military, suggested Rep. Dan Miller (D., Allegheny). — Justine Mcdaniel, Philly.com, "Gun safety after Parkland: Here's every idea the Pa. House has. Will any become reality?," 19 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'except.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near except

excenter

excentric

excentric, excentrical

Phrases Related to except

present company excepted

Statistics for except

Last Updated

3 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for except

The first known use of except was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for except

except

preposition

English Language Learners Definition of except

(Entry 1 of 3)

: not including (someone or something) : other than (something or someone)

except

verb

English Language Learners Definition of except (Entry 2 of 3)

: to leave out (someone or something) : to not include (someone or something)

except

conjunction

English Language Learners Definition of except (Entry 3 of 3)

—used to introduce a statement that indicates the only person or thing that is not included in or referred to by a previous statement

—used to introduce a statement that explains the reason why something is not possible, will not happen, etc.

See the full definition for except in the English Language Learners Dictionary

except

preposition

ex·cept | \ik-ˈsept

Kids Definition of except

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : not including We're open every day except Sundays.

2 : other than : but She told everyone except me.

except

conjunction

Kids Definition of except (Entry 2 of 3)

: if it were not for the fact that : only I'd go, except it's too far.

except

verb

excepted; excepting

Kids Definition of except (Entry 3 of 3)

: to leave out from a number or a whole : exclude Children are excepted from the requirements.

except

transitive verb

ex·cept | \ik-ˈsept\

Legal Definition of except

: 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