for
faw
For (prep) means Intended to benefit, belong to, or be given to someone or something. Example: “I bought this gift for my sister.”
prep
1
Intended to benefit, belong to, or be given to someone or something.
"I bought this gift for my sister."
"This desk is for the new employee."
2
Because of, or as the reason for.
"She was praised for her honesty."
3
In support of, or in favor of.
"Most residents voted for the new park."
4
Covering a period of time or distance.
"We drove for three hours without stopping."
5
In exchange for.
"He traded his old bike for a new one."
conj
1
Because (a formal, somewhat literary way of introducing a reason).
"She stayed inside, for the rain had not let up."
How to use for
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of the most common words in English, used to show purpose, reason, support, exchange, or duration.
Common mistake
As a conjunction meaning "because," "for" sounds formal and literary — in everyday speech, just use "because."
Common pairings
for example
for now
good for you
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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.
Synonyms
View more →
on behalf of
in favor of
because of
Antonyms
Related words
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.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing for in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
The Red Sox are not expected to stop with this deal, either, continuing to consider larger deals for another bat, sources said.
From
ESPN · Jul 25, 2026
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