The meaning of EXCEPT is with the exclusion or exception of. How to use except in a sentence.

Except is a preposition or conjunction. You use it to show that a statement does not include a particular thing or person.

We often use except and except for as prepositions to mean ‘not including’ or ‘excluding’. They are followed by a noun or noun phrase or a wh-clause. Both except and except for are correct after a …

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 …

You use except to introduce the only thing or person that a statement does not apply to, or a fact that prevents a statement from being completely true. I wouldn't have accepted anything except a job in …

Apr 16, 2026 · except (third-person singular simple present excepts, present participle excepting, simple past and past participle excepted) (transitive) To exclude; to specify as being an exception.

The preposition except means "excluding." When we refer to the continental United States, we mean the whole country except Alaska and Hawaii.

Definition of except conjunction in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Jan 13, 2026 · As a conjunction, "except" introduces a contrasting statement or an exception to a previously mentioned idea. This meaning is often found in formal writing and everyday speech.

ex•cept2 (ik sept′), v.t. to exclude; leave out: present company excepted. v.i. to object (usually fol. by to or against): to except to a statement; to except against a witness.