for
1 antonyms and opposites of for, grouped by meaning.
Prep — Intended to benefit, belong to, or be given to someone or something.
Antonyms
How to use for
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English for, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "before" or "in front of" — related to German für and Dutch voor.
Full origin of for →Frequently asked questions
What does “for” mean?
The word “for” means intended to benefit, belong to, or be given to someone or something. In plain terms, one of the most common words in English, used to show purpose, reason, support, exchange, or duration.
How do you pronounce “for”?
“For” is pronounced faw (/fɔɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “for” in a sentence?
Here is “for” used in a sentence: “I bought this gift for my sister.”
What is the opposite of “for”?
The opposite of “for” — its antonyms — is against.
What part of speech is “for”?
Depending on how it is used, “for” can be a preposition and a conjunction.
Where does the word “for” come from?
The word “for” comes from Old English. From Old English for, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "before" or "in front of" — related to German für and Dutch voor.
Is “for” a common word?
“For” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “for” have?
“For” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: intended to benefit, belong to, or be given to someone or something.
What is the difference between "for" and "since" with time?
"For" is used with a length of time: "for two hours", "for ten years." "Since" is used with the point when something started: "since Monday", "since 2015." Both commonly appear with perfect tenses: "I have lived here for ten years" or "since 2015."
What is the difference between "for" and "to" when expressing purpose?
Purpose with a verb takes "to" plus the infinitive: "I went out to buy milk." "For" expresses purpose with a noun, or with an -ing form describing what a thing is used for: "a knife for cutting bread", "medicine for headaches." Combinations like "for to buy" or "for buy" are incorrect.
Can "for" mean "because"?
Yes. "For" can introduce a reason: "He spoke quietly, for the baby was asleep." This use is formal and literary; in everyday English "because" or "since" is more natural.
What is the difference between "for" and "during"?
"For" answers "how long?" with a duration: "It rained for three days." "During" answers "when?" by naming the period in which something happened: "It rained during the night." You cannot say "during three days" to express duration.