all but

Idioms and Phrases

Almost, nearly, as in I've all but finished the book . This expression was used by Andrew Marvell in “Thoughts in a Garden”: “ Society is all but rude, To this delicious solitude .” [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

And in those conflicts, the Predator would be all-but-useless.

From The Daily Beast

It will leave the ACA intact, as is, to accrete interest group support until reform becomes all-but-impossible.

From The Daily Beast

Plushenko himself, an amusingly sore loser, played along by all-but-gay-baiting the Americans.

From The Daily Beast

Scarcely any President was ever elected with such all-but unanimity, and the Press was equally undivided in its praises.

From Project Gutenberg

The soul was very still, tired after an all-but-forgotten struggle.

From Project Gutenberg

A profound instinct has taught even the lower races of men (for the most part) to avoid such union of the all-but-identical.

From Project Gutenberg

Foch was all-but sure they were not wrong; that it was not in German nature to reason other than as I have described.

From Project Gutenberg

"I get something else, too," replied Maclay, in the same all-but soundless whisper.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• approximately
• basically
• essentially
• morally
• nearly
• virtually