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/ˈbʌt/
prepositionadverbconjunctionnoun

Is BUT a Scrabble word?

Yes. BUT is a valid Scrabble word in both tournament lists, NWL2023 and Collins, and in ENABLE. It scores 5 points in Scrabble and 7 in Words With Friends.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Meaning Apart from, except (for), excluding.

Preposition 2 meanings

  1. Apart from, except (for), excluding.

    “Everyone but Father left early.”

  2. Outside of.

    “Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there.”

Adverb 3 meanings

  1. Merely, only, just, no more than.

    “Christmas comes but once a year, so we can but wait till then.”

  2. Though, however.

    “I'll have to go home early but.”

  3. Used to repeat an adverb for emphasis; simply; just; absolutely.

    “I would never, but never do such a thing!”

Conjunction 4 meanings

  1. However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence).

    “She is very old but still attractive.”

  2. On the contrary, rather (as a regular adversative conjunction, introducing a word or clause in contrast or contradiction with the preceding negative clause or sentence).

    “It’s not so much that we don’t wanna go, but I just haven’t time.”

  3. Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.

    “But I never said you could do that!”

  4. Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, (archaic) with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".

    “I cannot but feel offended.”

Noun 3 meanings

  1. An instance of using the word "but"; an objection or caveat.

    “It has to be done—no ifs, ands, or buts.”

  2. The outer room of a small two-room cottage.

  3. A limit; a boundary.

Definitions adapted from Wiktionary: but via Kaikki/Wiktextract, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out.

Similar and opposite words

Similar
barringapartasidebarbesidesexceptexceptingexcluding

BUT at a glance

BUT has 3 letters and scores 5 points in Scrabble (B 3 + U 1 + T 1) and 7 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #25 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins (older SOWPODS edition).

Words ending in -BUT

More endings

Same last three letters as BUT. This is a spelling match, so not every word here rhymes.

  • DEBUT8
  • HALIBUT12
  • REBUT7
  • ABUT6
  • SACKBUT15
  • NOBBUT10
  • BARBUT10
  • HACKBUT18
  • HAGBUT12
  • HOLIBUT12
  • KRUBUT12
  • SACBUT10

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