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
Adverb
-
Julian Quinones almost scored his second goal moments later, but his shot hit the right post.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026 -
The lagoon, which wanders almost the entire length of the garden, adds a swath of blue to this oasis of green.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
Adverb
-
For the island, the wedding was both an extraordinary international showcase and an event that divided public opinion between enthusiasm for the visibility gained and criticism for a city that remained, for three days, practically off limits.—
Stefania Conrieri,
Vanity Fair,
7 June 2026
-
His band recreated practically every nuance of the original recording.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
7 June 2026
Adverb
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The White House has asked for nearly $2 billion in next year’s budget for R&D and advance procurement of the Defiant class.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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At its height nearly 20 years ago, India’s leader described the Maoists as the country’s biggest internal security threat, a blight on its status as the world’s largest democracy and its aspirations of becoming a global power.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Adverb
-
Environmental justice, transit and housing advocates warned the changes gut the program’s core mission, slash auction revenue by about $2 billion a year and jeopardize frontline climate and public-health protections.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
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About 2,200 people live within a mile of Tesla’s Fremont facility, about 10 times less than those within a mile of GKN, according to the EPA’s data.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“All but.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/all%20but. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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