How to Use but in a Sentence

but

1 of 3 preposition
  • Who but you would think that?
  • There was no one there but him.
  • I didn't tell anyone but my sister.
  • Why play by the rules of a world that brought you nothing but fear?
    — Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2019
  • Better yet, do it and tell no one but your favorite group chat.
    — Connie Wang & Lily Fulop, Refinery29, 7 Apr. 2020
  • Still, Couper had nothing but nice things to say about the wedge.
    — Nick Kindelsperger, chicagotribune.com, 21 June 2018
  • But what about those without any choice but to get married in the fall?
    — Ben Flanagan, AL.com, 27 Oct. 2017
  • Nicky Lopez had little choice but to just keep his head down and grind.
    — Blake Baumgartner, Naperville Sun, 7 July 2018
  • Antek kissed no one but his wife and served no man anything but whisky and beer.
    — Bill Savage, Chicago Reader, 13 June 2018
  • There's a time zone that's nothing but ocean, in case the fish have watches.
    — Ken Jennings, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Jan. 2018
  • There is no other way but to give a clear message to the public.
    — Jim Daley, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2019
  • The hard thing is that this is anything but an ordinary case.
    — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 25 July 2019
  • Some face little choice but to sell out to those live music giants.
    — Chris Payne, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2019
  • The sauce should have a pleasant orange flavor but not be too sweet.
    — Daniel Neman, sacbee, 26 June 2018
  • But the weeks leading up to that photo were anything but adorable.
    — Christina Oehler, Health.com, 13 May 2020
  • Pierce Brosnan can’t help but gush about his youngest son, Paris.
    — Alexia Fernandez, PEOPLE.com, 12 June 2019
  • Nvidia Graphs are supposed to be hard math, but this one is anything but.
    — Brad Chacos, PCWorld, 13 Sep. 2018
  • Firefighters had no choice but to sit back and hope the fire wouldn't grow in the meantime.
    — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 18 June 2018
  • But the young dictator has turned out to be anything but a puppet.
    — Charlie Campbell/singapore, Time, 14 June 2018
  • This was anything but a good-faith effort to comply with the agreement.
    — Emily K. Coleman, Lake County News-Sun, 19 Apr. 2018
  • Barack Obama can sink a three-pointer on his first try--nothing but net.
    — Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2018
  • In all good stories, the hero wants something but faces an obstacle.
    — John Lanchester, The New Yorker, 29 July 2019
  • But Whitely could not help but nitpick — a method that became habit long ago.
    — Carter Karels, San Antonio Express-News, 22 June 2018
  • And last night, yet again, Harding was nothing but a punchline.
    — Ali Drucker, Cosmopolitan, 5 Mar. 2018
  • Despite the pleas for calm, the nation seemed anything but as a fitful week drew to a close.
    — Robert Klemko, BostonGlobe.com, 29 May 2020
  • That’s what all but demands the Cowboys reach a long-term agreement with him.
    — Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas News, 14 Apr. 2020
  • On the whole, space is mostly empty, but the space around the Earth is anything but.
    — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 3 Apr. 2018
  • The dinners are four courses and cost $55, which includes tax but not tip.
    — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2019
  • The fire left behind nothing but the steel frame and part of the T-Rex’s tail.
    — Matthew Martinez, star-telegram, 23 Mar. 2018
  • This past week was anything but fun for a program that has fallen once again from the nation’s elite.
    — Edgar Thompson, OrlandoSentinel.com, 29 Oct. 2017

but

2 of 3 adverb
  • They have but two weeks to get ready.
  • First date was coffee; not long but nice, and left me wanting to know more.
    — The Cut, 21 May 2017
  • A lot of tiny houses nowadays are anything but.
    — Adam Williams april 25, New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Last not but least, treat yourself to some small appliance deals.
    — Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Time is short and the Kings’ margin for error has all but vanished.
    — Orange County Register, 13 Mar. 2017
  • And while the outing was sporty in nature, her outfit was anything but.
    — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
  • Those along for the journey will remember it as anything but.
    — Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025
  • But statement that seems so benevolent can be anything but.
    — Kathy and Ross Petrass, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The timing is anything but random.
    — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
  • Pets are one of life’s most joyous treasures—but the fleas that can often come along with them are anything but.
    — Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
  • The film frames Sonny as the underdog but treats him like anything but.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 3 July 2025
  • And a traveler cannot but be struck on his journey by the thought that this country, one day, can be even greater.
    — WSJ, 22 Nov. 2022
  • The playoff journey hasn’t been an easy one for the Eagles — anything but.
    — Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The one thing everyone agrees on is that the undecided vote has all but vanished.
    — Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, 18 June 2017
  • But the mechanics behind it are often anything but.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 May 2026
  • While cat videos are common, Niska and her muted coloring are anything but.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026
  • By the time we’re seated at the cafe for an interview, though, Josey’s mind appears anything but.
    — Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 24 Apr. 2026
  • That's where the spinoff picks up, and of course, the co-parents and maybe-couple's happy ending is everything but.
    — Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 24 July 2025
  • Drought, which covered almost a third of the nation at the beginning of winter, has all but vanished.
    — Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2017
  • But early indications suggest that the process could be anything but.
    — Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
  • The contest in Los Angeles is anything but.
    — Douglas E. Schoen, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Also, his change-up, which was a big weapon against lefty hitters in 2016, has all but disappeared.
    — Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press, 13 July 2017
  • Exactly one minute later, Nolan Volcan made the score 5-3 and the game was all but over.
    — Jim Riley, The Seattle Times, 12 May 2017
  • Kylie Jenner is proving that quiet luxury can anything but subtle—and she's got the ring to prove it.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 28 May 2026
  • While Amali Island may be intimate in scale, the villa itself is anything but.
    — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
  • My brother’s family is kind but poor, and relies on help from family, friends and various agencies to make ends meet.
    — Carolyn Hax, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2017
  • This local knowledge ensures treatments aren’t one-size-fits-all but tailored to the unique challenges of each community.
    — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
  • While this might seem like the logical next step in the hiring process for a Ryan Murphy show, the suggestion felt anything but.
    — Connor Hines, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
  • The line of cities bidding to host the Olympics in the wake of the record-setting 1984 Games has all but disappeared.
    — Scott Reid, Orange County Register, 9 June 2017
  • Peter may be insecure about his own place in a world where only parts of it have room for him, but as a storyteller with an eye, Firstman is anything but.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 May 2026

but

3 of 3 noun
  • There's no ifs, ands, buts about it.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
  • There’s no ifs, ands and buts about that.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • There's no ifs, ands or buts about that, but not here.
    — Carlos Morales, NPR, 26 May 2026
  • But there was a but of confusion from the judges and fans at home.
    — Leah Rocketto, Woman's Day, 29 Oct. 2020
  • The short answer is no, and the longer answer is maybe with a but.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Weigh-in daily No ifs, ands, or buts, about it, get on the scale.
    — Kimberly Garrison, Philly.com, 1 May 2018
  • Best friends make everything better — there's no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
    — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 15 Dec. 2017
  • The three, four and five (positions) need to crash the boards every possession — no ifs, ands or buts.
    — Nick Kosmider, The Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2017
  • However, there are a couple of major *buts* with that statement.
    — Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Honor’s hardware is deeply impressive, but there’s always a but.
    — Simon Hill, WIRED, 5 Sep. 2024
  • And Mexico, no buts about it, Mexico will paaaay for the wall.
    — Graham Lanktree, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2017
  • There’s no ifs, buts or maybes, Saoirse is one of the greatest actors of her generation.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 8 Oct. 2024
  • That’s the territory the Cowboys now find themselves in, the ifs-and-buts land.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025
  • But Laura isn’t interested in discussing the ifs and buts.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
  • No ifs, no buts, no calculating where the series stands, and whether more time on the sidelines would best serve the two elite thirtysomethings.
    — Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Apr. 2023
  • That’s a lot of ifs and buts, but this relatively simple analysis can at least point to what would have to happen to make this viable.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
  • In Sumner’s mind, loyalty to the American flag had no ifs, buts, or maybes.
    — Zaakir Tameez june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
  • Anxious officials reached out to help her, buts realized that would disqualify her.
    — Bill Livingston, cleveland.com, 16 May 2017
  • Lee Corso said it without equivocation on Tuesday, without any ifs, ands or buts.
    — Creg Stephenson, AL.com, 17 Apr. 2018
  • Le meneur de jeu espagnol a marqué 10 buts et a offert 18 passes décisives cette saison.
    — SI.com, 17 Apr. 2018
  • There are some people who're lucky enough to live in California or New Mexico and can laugh at the rest of us freezing our buts off.
    — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 7 Jan. 2018
  • While the league would have suffered its first year-to-year decline of the season if the legacy ratings system were still in place, advertisers aren’t overly concerned with ifs and buts.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Nov. 2025
  • As to what there is to see along the way, Miss Manners hopes that whoever follows will have the common courtesy, if not the common sense, to follow at a modest distance and with eyes elsewhere — no ifs, ands, buts or butts.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
  • Those truths come together in a series of ands and buts, which layer upon and contradict each other, like the afterimages of Tullock in Stefania Bulbarella’s video design.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'but.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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