DictionaryAI

except

ik-SEPT/ɪkˈsɛpt/

Often confused with accept

5 meanings of except

Practice

  1. 1
    apart frompreposition
    Used to introduce a noun that is left out of a statement just made, marking it as an exception.

    She likes all vegetables except broccoli.

    Nobody on the team except the coach knew about the trade.

    UsageUsually after all, every, nothing or any: every day except Sunday. Not to be confused with accept.

    Similarexcluding, but, besides, save

    Oppositeincluding

  2. 2
    conjunction
    Used to introduce a clause or phrase that is an exception to what was just said, or a fact that stops it from being completely true.

    The plan was perfect, except that no one had checked the weather.

    He never travels, except to visit his sister each summer.

    UsageTakes a clause, with or without that: except that no one checked. After do, use the bare verb: did everything except steal.

  3. 3
    conjunctionarchaic
    Used to mean "unless"; introduces a hypothetical condition under which an exception might hold.
    Offensive wars, except the cause be very just, I will not allow of.
    1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy
    And they sayde: We have no moo but five loves and two fisshes, except we shulde goo and bye meate for all this people.
    1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt (Tyndale Bible)

    Similarbarring

    Note

    This is the early modern "unless," found from William Tyndale's New Testament of 1526, through Macbeth, to Samuel Richardson's Clarissa (1748). Read it as a condition, not a subtraction. Robert Burton's "Offensive wars, except the cause be very just" means unless the cause is just, and the verb often takes the subjunctive be.

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    exemptverbtransitive
    To exclude something or someone; to specify a thing as not being covered by a statement or rule.

    The treaty excepts certain border regions from the disarmament terms.

    Lawmakers chose to except small businesses from the new tax.

    UsageMost often in present company excepted; otherwise you except someone from a rule. Not to be confused with accept.

    Similarexclude, exempt, omit

    Oppositeinclude

    Note

    All of except comes from this act of leaving something out: the word was borrowed from Middle French excepter, from Latin exceptus.

  2. 5
    objectverbintransitive
    To raise an objection to or against something or someone.

    Counsel excepted to the admission of the evidence.

    A party that wishes to except to the referee's report must file its objections in writing within the time the court allows.

    UsageUsually except to or except against something: counsel excepted to the ruling. Except at is older.

    Similarobject, protest, demur

    Oppositeassent, agree

    Note

    Sir Thomas Browne writes that the Athenians might fairly except against burial in honey. Shakespeare puts two senses in one line, "Except thou wilt except against my love," with the archaic "unless" first.

Practice

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Origin

Borrowed from Middle French 'excepter', which comes from Latin 'exceptus'.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

  • English 'except' was borrowed from Middle French 'excepter', ultimately from Latin 'exceptus'. en.wiktionary.org