but
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
How often you will meet it
Rank 22 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 1,402,511 times across 175,113 chapters — 0.667% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 100 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
conjunction
- used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
preposition
- except; other than
but in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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But the pain, whatever it was, was only momentary.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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But beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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She gave a subdued squeal of joy, but the boy's face was calm as a star.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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Followed by his sponsor he obeys and what happens at the room no one but the men of the society know.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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Some of the parts are rather long, but all have been played by children of the age indicated in the text.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1