but that

phrase

: that
—used after a negative
there is no doubt but that it must be done

Examples of but that in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sure, pedicures get more playtime over the summer, but that doesn’t mean your toes don’t deserve the same attention once temperatures drop. — Marianne Mychaskiw, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026 Paying an insider may be the only way to maintain access, protect the source or extract someone from a movement, but that same payment also carries the risk of subsidizing the movement itself. — Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026 The water is cold off of Comporta, but that didn’t stop dozens of braver beachgoers than me from splashing in the waves. — Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026 Burnt on cheese and sauce still stained a bit, even with a dark charcoal gray glaze, but that was more of an aesthetic issue than anything affecting performance. — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for but that

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of but that was before the 12th century

Rhymes for but that

See All Rhymes for but that

Browse Nearby Words

buttgenbachite
but that
butthead
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“But that.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/but%20that. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All