Definitions

all but

Part of Speech:

All (6) Adjective (1) Adverb (5)

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practically adj.
almost adv.
just about adv.
most adv.
nearly adv.
round adv.

ADJECTIVE

practically

Synonyms

STRONGEST

approximately basically essentially morally nearly virtually

STRONG

much

WEAK

about as good as as much as close to for all intents and purposes fundamentally in effect in essence most nigh well-nigh

Antonyms

WEAK

far not close

ADVERB

almost

Synonyms

STRONGEST

about approximately around essentially most much practically relatively roughly virtually

STRONG

nigh well-nigh

WEAK

about to as good as bordering on close to close upon for all practical purposes for the greatest part in effect in the neighborhood of in the vicinity of just about near to not far from not quite on the brink of on the edge of on the point of on the verge of pretty near substantially within sight of

ADVERB

just about

Synonyms

WEAK

about approximately around as good as close to nearly nigh not quite practically well-nigh

ADVERB

most

Synonyms

STRONGEST

almost exceedingly much nearly remarkably too very

STRONG

about nigh well-nigh

WEAK

approximately close eminently in the majority mightily practically super surpassingly

Antonyms

STRONGEST

little

WEAK

least

ADVERB

nearly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

approximately practically roughly virtually

STRONG

about closely most well-nigh

WEAK

approaching as good as circa close but no cigar give or take a little in effect in essence in substance in the ballpark in the neighborhood just about more or less much nearabout not quite pretty near round roundly some somewhere upwards of within a little

ADVERB

round

Synonyms

STRONG

around near

WEAK

about almost as good as close to in the neighborhood of just about most nearly practically roughly

Antonyms

WEAK

definite exact precise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

all but

Walters spent all but one month of his 20s in jail or prison.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

The Federal Reserve looks all but certain to hike interest rates on Wednesday, even though it would risk making the large U.S. debt burden more precarious to manage.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

With the current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire about a month after the World Series, owners are all but certain to initiate a lockout that could threaten the 2027 season.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

They set about testing 14 sites in Wales and north west England where it was thought Monsanto had been dumping PCBs, and found elevated levels at all but one.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

The city air was always thick with coal and dust and smoke, lower Manhattan worse than all, but this was different.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

all but

Example Sentences

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Related Words