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

Ditto the fact that none of the doors in the house lock, except for the bathroom. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025

Back in the present, Carol sits in coach on a plane back to New Mexico that is empty except for Zosia (Karolina Wydra). —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025

This article and the 2025 survey are not in any way attributable to the Society except for the inclusion of results from the 2021 survey as noted above. —Joshua Shek, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025

Local National Weather Service offices forecast partly or mostly clear skies across much of the region, except for mostly cloudy skies in the far eastern UP, with a slight chance of showers in Sault Ste. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for except for

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

Kids Definition

except for

preposition

: with the exception of : but for

all A's except for a B in Latin