except
ihk-SEHPT
Except (preposition) means used to introduce something left out of a general statement. Example: “The shop is open every day except Sunday.”
preposition
1
Used to introduce something left out of a general statement.
"The shop is open every day except Sunday."
"Everyone came to the party except Sarah."
"I like all vegetables except mushrooms, which taste odd to me."
conjunction
1
Used to introduce an exception or a reason something didn't happen.
"I would go for a swim, except the water is far too cold."
"The recipe is easy, except you must wait an hour for the dough."
"I would have called, except my phone died."
verb
1
To leave something out or mark it as an exception (a more formal, less common usage).
"Children under five are excepted from the entry fee."
"Late arrivals, the manager excepted, will have to wait outside."
"Present company excepted, everyone was late."
How to use except
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishApart from; leaving one thing out of the rest.
Common mistake
"Except" (to exclude) is often confused with "accept" (to agree to receive) — they sound alike but mean opposite things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
except for
except that
present company excepted
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- excepts
- Past tense
- excepted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The shop is open every day _____ Sunday.
Etymology
From Middle French excepter, from Latin exceptus, "taken out."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “except” mean?
The word “except” means used to introduce something left out of a general statement. In plain terms, apart from; leaving one thing out of the rest.
How do you pronounce “except”?
“Except” is pronounced ihk-SEHPT (/ɪkˈsɛpt/ in IPA).
How do you use “except” in a sentence?
Here is “except” used in a sentence: “Everyone came to the party except Sarah.”
What is the opposite of “except”?
The opposite of “except” — its antonyms — are in addition to, for example and even.
What part of speech is “except”?
Depending on how it is used, “except” can be a preposition, a conjunction and a verb.
Where does the word “except” come from?
The word “except” comes from Latin. From Middle French excepter, from Latin exceptus, "taken out.".
Is “except” a common word?
“Except” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “except” have?
“Except” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to introduce something left out of a general statement.
What is the difference between except and accept?
Except means not including or apart from; it leaves something out, as in everyone except me. Accept is a verb meaning to receive or agree to something, as in I accept your offer. They sound similar but differ completely in meaning. Remember: accept and agree both start with an a.
What is the difference between 'except' and 'except for'?
They are very close. Both introduce an exclusion, and often either works: everyone came except, or except for, Sam. Except for is preferred at the start of a sentence, as in except for the rain, it was perfect, and when excluding a whole idea rather than a single item.
Can 'except' be used as a verb?
Yes, though it is less common. As a verb, to except means to exclude or leave out, as in present company excepted. You will also see it in formal phrases like excepting weekends. In everyday English, however, except is used far more often as a preposition meaning apart from.
What is an example of 'except' in a sentence?
The shop is open every day except Sunday. Here, except leaves Sunday out of the general statement that the shop is open daily. Other examples: I like all fruit except bananas, or everyone passed except two students. It always signals what does not fit the wider claim.
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