all but

adverb

Definition of all butnext
as in almost
very close to but not completely dinner is all but on the table, so don't go anywhere

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for all but
  1. almost
  2. practically
  3. nearly
  4. about
Adverb
  • Trump on Tuesday said that while almost all the incoming fire in Jordan was stopped, some made it through.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • Skubal pitched in a major-league game only 38 days after surgery, a feat that almost feels forgotten given all that has happened around him.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of almost
Adverb
  • Fetterman and McCormick even launched a joint fundraising committee, practically unheard-of for senators from different parties.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 31 July 2026
  • The jokes practically wrote themselves as an eclectic group of progressive pastors, imams and a rabbi walked into a room, finding their seats around a table to talk about religion and politics.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
Definition of practically
Adverb
  • Jaime Diez, a veteran immigration attorney based in Brownsville, Texas, recently had almost 20 cases called in one day, nearly 10 times his previously normal pace.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The optics became nearly as problematic as the financial structure itself.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of nearly
Adverb
  • Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over cake, about 1-inch apart.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Fairview Fire was estimated at about 979 acres and remains a fast-moving threat, according to firefighters.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of about
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

allays
all but
all clear
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“All but.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/all%20but. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on all but

Nglish: Translation of all but for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of élan

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All