# for

Pronunciation: US say "FOR" /fɔɹ/; say "FAW" UK /fɔː(ɹ)/, AUS /foː(ɹ)/

## Preposition

1. Indicating the purpose something serves or how it is meant to be used or handled.
   - Simple: Used to say what something is meant to do or be used for, as in 'a knife for bread'.
   - _The blue bin is for paper and cardboard._
   - _These shoes are for running, not for walking to work._
2. Used to show who or what a statement concerns or applies to, or whose point of view it gives.
   - Simple: Used to say who or what something is about, or whose opinion it is.
   - _The worst part of the trip, for me, was the long drive home._
   - _Luckily for us, the rain held off until the game was over._
3. Directed at; intended to belong to or be received by.
   - Simple: Used to say who is meant to get or receive something.
   - _A parcel for Mrs. Lee arrived this morning._
   - _He left a note for whoever found the bag._
4. Throughout a stated length of time or distance.
   - Simple: Used to say how long something lasts or how far it goes, as in for an hour or for miles.
   - _The shop was shut for the whole of August._
   - _They talked for hours about nothing._
5. Because of; on account of.
   - Simple: Because of, as in 'she was punished for lying'.
   - _The town is famous for its cheese._
   - _She was fined for parking on the pavement._
6. In order to get, obtain, find or detect something.
   - Simple: Used to say what someone wants to get or find, as in looking for keys or asking for help.
   - _The dog ran for the ball as soon as it left my hand._
   - _Thousands applied for the ten jobs._
7. On behalf of; representing.
   - Simple: Acting in place of someone, or to represent them.
   - _The deputy answered questions for the absent minister._
   - _She has played soccer for her country since she was nineteen._
8. In order to help, benefit, please, or honor someone or something, including naming something after them.
   - Simple: To help, please, or honor someone or something, including by naming something after them.
   - _The town held a parade for the returning team._
   - _Volunteers raised money for the flood victims._
9. Used idiomatically with particular verbs to mark a target, purpose, or result.
   - Simple: Used with certain verbs in fixed ways, as in 'care for', 'look for', or 'stand for'.
   - _We must allow for delays at the border._
   - _She settled for second place rather than nothing._
10. Used before the subject in a clause formed with to and an infinitive.
   - Simple: Used before the person who does the action in a phrase with 'to'.
   - _The plan is for the team to leave on Monday._
   - _There is no need for anyone to worry._
11. In return; as the price, equivalent, or counterpart of.
   - Simple: In exchange for, as in 'I paid ten dollars for it'.
   - _The club paid a record fee for the striker._
   - _He matched her argument point for point._
12. Suiting someone's needs, wishes, beliefs, abilities, or tastes, and so ideal or appropriate for them.
   - Simple: Right or suitable for someone or something, as in 'the job for you'.
   - _A quiet village was no place for a restless teenager._
   - _The role seemed made for her._
13. Used to name the time or occasion on which something is planned, booked, or arranged to happen.
   - Simple: At the time or event that something is planned or booked for.
   - _I reserved a table for eight o'clock on Friday._
   - _The final vote is scheduled for next Tuesday._
14. In anticipation of; so as to be ready.
   - Simple: Getting ready for something that is coming, as in 'prepare for the test'.
   - _The city braced for the storm._
   - _Farmers were preparing for an early frost._
15. Indicating something desired or anticipated.
   - Simple: Used to say you wish for something, or to bring in what comes next.
   - _Oh for a week by the sea, she sighed._
   - _Right, now for the hard part._
16. So that; in order to. *(nonstandard)*
   - Simple: In nonstandard speech, 'so that', as in 'he left early for he could get home'.
17. Supporting; in favor of.
   - Simple: Supporting or in favor of something, as in 'vote for the plan'.
   - _Most of the council voted for the merger._
   - _She was always for giving people a second chance._
18. Used to show where an occurrence falls in a series of repeated events, such as the first, second, or last time.
   - Simple: Used to say which time in a row something happens, like the first or last time.
   - _The team won the championship for the third year in a row._
   - _For the second time this month, the train broke down outside the city._
20. With the aim of curing, getting rid of, or counteracting something.
   - Simple: In order to get rid of or treat something, as in 'medicine for a headache'.
   - _The orchard was sprayed for aphids in May._
   - _He is being treated for a rare infection._
22. As; in the role or place of, or regarded as being.
   - Simple: As, or in place of, as in using a box for a table or taking someone for a spy.
   - _The children used an old door for a raft._
   - _She has ice for a heart, they said._
23. So as to allow someone or something to take a position.
   - Simple: So that something or someone can have the space, as in 'make room for'.
   - _The old cinema was pulled down to make way for a car park._
   - _Stand aside for the stretcher, please._
24. By the standards of, usually implying those standards are low; considering.
   - Simple: Considering what someone or something is, as in 'tall for his age'.
   - _The film was good for a sequel._
   - _He runs fast for a man of sixty._
25. Despite or in spite of; usually in the phrase 'for all'.
   - Simple: In spite of, in the phrase 'for all', as in 'for all his money'.
   - _The bridge held, for all the engineers' fears._
   - _The plan failed, for all the money spent on it._
26. Towards; in the direction of.
   - Simple: Toward a place, as in 'head for home'.
   - _As the rain began, everyone made for the tents._
   - _The plane bound for Rome was delayed._
27. Facing or due to receive a certain outcome or fate. *(UK)*
   - Simple: In British speech, likely to get something bad, as in 'he's for it'.
   - _The whole department is for the axe under the new plan._
   - _Anyone caught cheating was for the high jump._
28. Out of; indicating a fraction or ratio, especially in sports. *(US)*
   - Simple: In American sports, 'out of', as in 'three for four' (three hits from four tries).
   - _She finished the night four for four from the free-throw line._
   - _The kicker was perfect, three for three._
29. In expressions such as 'for a start' and 'for one thing': introducing the first item in a potential sequence.
   - Simple: Used to begin a list of reasons, as in 'for one thing'.
   - _Why not fly? Well, for one thing, I hate airports._
   - _We should sell the house: for a start, it's too big._
30. In cricket, used in a score to introduce the number of wickets that have fallen: England were 305 for 3.
   - Simple: In cricket scores, used before the number of batters out, as in '305 for 3'.
   - _From 40 for 5, the tail rescued the innings._
   - _The visitors declared at 400 for 4._
19. Used to name what a word, letter or symbol represents, or the meaning it carries.
   - Simple: Used to say what a word, letter or sign means, as in "the word for dog".
   - _There is no single English word for the German idea of Schadenfreude._
   - _In the formula, the letter c is for the speed of light._

## Conjunction

21. Because; used to introduce a reason as an afterthought. *(literary)*
   - Simple: Because, used to add the reason for something just said.
   - _The village was silent, for everyone had gone to the fair._
   - _We must leave now, for the tide is turning._

## Other meanings

- (preposition) Used to mark something an action is meant to prevent, or the fear that prompts it.
- (particle) In some dated dialect speech, used instead of to before a verb to mark the infinitive, as in able for get up.

## Origin

The word goes back to Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- through Proto-Germanic *furi. In Old English, for meant "for, because of," and the same form continued in Middle English. Relatives include Dutch voor, German für, Danish and Norwegian for, Latin per, and Ancient Greek perí.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/for (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).