but that

phrase

: that
—used after a negative
there is no doubt but that it must be done

Examples of but that in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Loyalty may be a lost art in some workplaces, but that doesn’t mean it’s lost its value. — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 7 July 2026 Over the past year, a wave of Strategy copycats have stuffed public companies with crypto in a bid to lift their share prices, but that trade has largely lost steam. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 6 July 2026 Ideally, costs are allocated to the customers who cause them, but that can be complicated to determine. — Theodore J. Kury, The Conversation, 6 July 2026 Under basic labor law, MLB could hire temporary workers during a lockout, but that is not going to happen. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for but that

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of but that was before the 12th century

Rhymes for but that

See All Rhymes for but that

Browse Nearby Words

buttgenbachite
but that
butthead
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“But that.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/but%20that. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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