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

In other words, everyone is having a hectic day — except for Joy. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2026

The narrator, purged of identifiers except for her yearning, her rational faculties, and her sense of unbelonging, is counterintuitively relatable—a portrait of rudimentary, universal humanity. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

According to the report, IPO activity and new private jet deliveries are 70% correlated over the past decade, except for the 2020 and 2021 Covid years. — Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

All of them either declined or did not respond, except for Supervisor Paloma Aguirre. — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 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