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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for all but
  1. almost
  2. practically
  3. nearly
  4. about
Adverb
  • His 3-point win that year kept the seat, held by Richard Burr for almost two decades, in Republican hands.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Billy Joel will tickle the ivories in public again for the first time in almost two years next month.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of almost
Adverb
  • The backstory The Dusit brand is practically synonymous with luxury hospitality in Thailand, having first opened its doors in Bangkok back in 1970.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • But the outcome shows that Johnson County’s voters practically single-handedly ended the Republican supermajority.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of practically
Adverb
  • The firm brings nearly two decades of combined experience at leading financial institutions with expertise in investments, development, and cross-border execution.
    — William Jones, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The nearly 1,000-foot-long vessel, once the fastest ocean liner in the world, will now rest on the seabed and provide a new habitat for marine life.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of nearly
Adverb
  • The city distributed about 800 sandbags during the event at Marina Green by noon, with officials expecting to hand out at least 1,000 by the end of the day.
    — Da Lin, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • And a major academic publisher, Elsevier, reported submissions to its journals jumped about 68% from 2021 to 2025.
    — TODD WALLACK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 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 12 Nov. 2026.

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