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except
1[ik-sept]
preposition
with the exclusion of; excluding; save; but.
They were all there except me.
except
2[ik-sept]
verb (used with object)
to exclude from or leave out of a particular category.
Surveys that are used exclusively for certain educational purposes are excepted from these requirements.
verb (used without object)
to object (usually followed by to oragainst ).
to except to a statement;
to except against a witness.
except
/ ɪˈɛ /
preposition
Also: except for.other than; apart from; with the exception of
he likes everyone except you
except for this mistake, you did very well
(conjunction) but for the fact that; were it not true that
conjunction
an archaic word for unless
informalexcept that; but for the fact that
I would have arrived earlier, except I lost my way
verb
(tr) to leave out; omit; exclude
rareto take exception; object
Confusables Note
Other Word Forms
- exceptable adjective
- unexceptable adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of except1
Idioms and Phrases
except for, if it were not for.
She would travel more except for lack of money.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
"Because there was no one else at that spot except him."
All states except Alaska have at least one provider tax on managed care plans, hospitals, nursing homes, emergency ground transportation, or other types of health care businesses.
Syria's Islamist-led interim government has decreed that women must wear burkinis - a swimsuit that covers the body except for the face, hands and feet - or other "decent" clothes at public beaches and swimming pools.
He said they were mostly peaceful, except for the “idiots” who covered their faces and incited violence as the sun went down.
But there is not much else they can do except wait, and speak out.
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Related Words
When To Use
Except is most commonly used as a preposition meaning excluding or but, as in Everyone was invited except me, or as a conjunction meaning but for the fact that, as in I would have called, except I lost my phone. Accept is a common word with many meanings, most of which involve receiving something, taking something on, or putting up with something.Accept is always a verb. Except can also be used as a verb meaning to exclude, as in the common phrase present company excepted, but its verb use is much less common.To remember the difference in the spelling between accept and except, remember that except shares the prefix ex- with exclude, which is fitting since except is commonly used in situations in which someone or something has been excluded.Accept, on the other hand, is often used in situations in which something is acquired.Here’s an example of except and accept used correctly in the same sentence.Example: I usually accept your excuses, except this time I know they’re not true.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between except and accept.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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