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

My family has always left shoes at the door, except for occasional circumstances like parties, et cetera. — R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 20 July 2026

The kids at camp are little more than an afterthought, except for one, Eden (Izza Jarvis), whose instability triggers Emily. — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 20 July 2026

Mbappe was so dynamic, so consistently a threat even when the ball was 50 yards away, and so lethal except for that one day in Dallas. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026

And in that day, there was no crossing over of groups and doing each other’s music except for us. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 July 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