except for

preposition

1

: with the exception of

Everyone was gone except for me.

2

: were it not for

except for you I would be dead

Synonyms of except for

• except
• beside
• besides
• other than
• but

Examples of except for in a Sentence

except for newscasts, I hardly watch any television at all

Recent Examples on the Web

More curious is that the hospital doesn’t appear to have been in use except for Hal’s treatment. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026

Every player with 500 is in the Hall of Fame, except for those connected to performance-enhancing drugs. — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

The lack of offense was familiar, except for the aberration of Thursday night’s 18-run outburst against the Houston Astros. — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026

Physicians explained that, except for the golf ball-size tumor, his son was healthy. — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for except for

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore
• heretofore

Kids Definition

except for

preposition

: with the exception of : but for

all A's except for a B in Latin