except for

preposition

1

: with the exception of

everyone was gone except for me

2

: were it not for

except for you I would be dead

Synonyms

• apart from
• aside from
• bar
• barring
• beside
• besides
• but
• except
• excepting
• excluding
• exclusive of
• other than
• outside
• outside of
• save
• saving

Examples of except for in a Sentence

except for newscasts, I hardly watch any television at all

Recent Examples on the Web

The last decade has brought an avalanche of changes to the Kia lineup, and all for the better (except for the demise of the game-changing Stinger that went to the Great Discontinued Lineup in the Sky in 2023). —Kristin Shaw, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

The top 10 spots were dominated by institutions in the United States, except for Université Paris Cité in France (No. 5) and University of Toronto in Canada (No. 10). —Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025

Yogurt chocolate chip cookies: An easy drop cookie that — except for yogurt replacing the eggs — uses the same ingredients as the Toll House classic. —Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025

All players have reported to camp except for Joey Meneses, a first baseman signed to a minor league contract, who is dealing with a visa issue. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for except for

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• blastopore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore

Kids Definition

except for

preposition

: with the exception of : but for

all A's except for a B in Latin