but for

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.

Tesla was dethroned early this year by Chinese automaker BYD as the largest EV seller in the world, but for many Californians, Musk’s signature vehicles are still an obvious choice.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

For a while, I found middle-period Henry James to be fairly effective, but for a couple of decades at least, fiction has been out of the mix.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

That’s when it became clear that, but for the intervention of the U.S.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

“Those at the top of the wealth distribution can absorb long-term-care costs without substantial losses, but for most Americans, the burden of paying for care wipes out decades of savings and home equity.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

We ate conch chowder all the time, but for some reason it tasted better than ever.

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm