except

E1X8C3E1P3T1
UK/ɪkˈsɛpt/UK/ɛkˈsɛpt//əkˈsɛpt/

verb

To exclude; to specify as being an exception.

“to except to a witness or his testimony”

Similar
apart fromexcept forouttakewith the exception ofapartasideaside frombar
Opposite
in addition tofor exampleeven
OriginMiddle French excepter ← Latin exceptus →
Very commonScrabble 17
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbexcept (third-person singular simple present excepts, present participle excepting, simple past and past participle excepted)

present singular third person excepts · participle present excepting · participle past excepted · past excepted · alternative archaic rare excepte

  1. transitiveTo exclude; to specify as being an exception.

    I find most people annoying — present company excepted, of course!

    1 more example

    But this [ban on circumcision] must have been a provocation, as the emperor Antoninus Pius later acknowledged by excepting the Jews.

    2007, Glen Bowersock, “Provocateur”, in London Review of Books, 29:4, page 17
  2. intransitiveTo take exception, to object (to or against).

    to except to a witness or his testimony

    4 more examples

    Except thou wilt except against my love.

    c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]

    Yea, but methinks I hear some man except at these words[…].

    1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York: New York Review Books, published 2001, →ISBN, page 312

    The Athenians might fairly except against the practise of Democritus to be buried up in honey; as fearing to embezzle a great commodity of their Countrey

    1658, Sir Thomas Browne, Urne-Burial, Penguin, published 2005, page 23

    he was a great lover of music, and perhaps, had he lived in town, might have passed for a connoisseur; for he always excepted against the finest compositions of Mr Handel.

    1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC
preposition

alternative archaic rare excepte

  1. Used to introduce an exception or qualification to something previously stated.

    There was nothing in the cupboard except a tin of beans.

    2 more examples

    Except that he is wearing polka-dot drawers, he is buck naked.

    1983, Paul T. Rogers, Saul's Book

    One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains. Isolating a city’s effluent and shipping it away in underground sewers has probably saved more lives than any medical procedure except vaccination.

    2014 June 14, “It's a gas”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8891

    Synonyms: apart from, except for, outtake, with the exception of, apart, apart from, aside, aside from

conjunction

alternative archaic rare excepte

  1. Used to introduce a clause, phrase, verb infinitive, adverb or other non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification to something previously stated.

    I never made fun of her except teasingly.

    5 more examples

    You look a bit like my sister, except (that) she has longer hair.

    To survive, I did everything except steal.

    Come any time except between ten and twelve.

    "I don't want to spoil any comparison you are going to make," said Jim, "but I was at Winchester and New College." ¶ "That will do," said Mackenzie. "I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by—except steal.[…]."

    1909 September 9, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter II, in The Squire’s Daughter, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC

    Mother[…]considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, from which every Kensingtonian held aloof, except on the conventional tip-and-run excursions in pursuit of shopping, tea and theatres.

    1921, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC
  2. informalLoosely, used to introduce a contrastive statement explaining why something wasn't successful, didn't happen, etc.

    I almost walked out, except I remembered the promise I had made.

    1 more example

    They fired tear gas at us, except the wind was blowing the wrong way.

  3. archaicUnless; used to introduce a hypothetical case in which an exception may exist.

    Offensive wars, except the cause be very just, I will not allow of.

    1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York, published 2001, page 106
    3 more examples

    And they sayde: We have no moo but five loves and two fisshes, except we shulde goo and bye meate for all this people.

    1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Luke

    If I ſay ſooth, I muſt report they were / As Cannons ouer-charg'd with double Cracks, / So they doubly redoubled ſtroakes vpon the Foe: / Except they meant to bathe in reeking Wounds, / Or memorize another Golgotha, / I cannot tell: but I am faint, / My Gaſhes cry for helpe.

    c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 131, column 2

    I am […] not so clear how you will be able to avoid it, except you assert the independence to which your estate gives you a title.

    1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XXVII”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC

Synonyms & antonyms

prepositionUsed to introduce an exception or qualification to something previously stated.

Similar
apart fromexcept forouttakewith the exception ofapartapart fromasideaside frombarbarringbesidesbutbut forexcept forexceptingexcludingforbymodulonot counting
Opposite
in addition tofor exampleeven

More synonyms by meaning

verbobject to

Similar
demur
Broader
object

verbprevent from being included or considered or accepted

Similar
excludeleave outleave offomittake out
Broader
extinguisheliminateget rid of
Also see
apart frombarbutdemurexcept forexceptingexcludeexpostulateleave offleave outmoduloobjectomitsave fortake outwith the exception of

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinexceptus
  2. Middle Frenchexcepter
  3. Englishexcept

Borrowed from Middle French excepter, from Latin exceptus.

More words from Middle French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek πλήν, εἰ μή
  • πλήν (plḗn)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • εἰ μή (ei mḗ)Introducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • πλὴν εἰ (plḕn ei)Introducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • πλήν (plḗn)Introducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Arabic اِسْتَثْنَى, إِلَّا
  • اِسْتَثْنَى (istaṯnā)to exclude
  • إِلَّا (ʔillā)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • بِاسْتِثْنَاء (bi-stiṯnāʔ)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • عَدَا (ʕadā)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • دُونَ (dūna)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • سِوَى (siwā)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • حَاشَا (ḥāšā)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • خَلَا (ḵalā)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • غَيْر (ḡayr)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • مَا عَدَا (mā ʕadā)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • إِلَّا (ʔillā)Introducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Bulgarian изключвам, освен
  • изключвам (izključvam)to exclude
  • освен (osven)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • с изключение на (s izključenie na)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • освен ако (osven ako)Introducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Catalan exceptuar, excepte
  • exceptuarto exclude
  • excepteintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • llevatintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • tretintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Chinese Mandarin 除了...以外, 除了
  • 除了...以外 (chúle...yǐwài)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • 除了 (chúle)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Czech vyloučit, namítat
  • vyloučitto exclude
  • namítatto take exception, to object to
  • kroměintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • mimointroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • vyjmaintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • kroměIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Danish bortset fra, ud over
  • bortset fraintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • ud overintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • med undtagelse afintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • undtagenintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • forudenintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Dutch uitsluiten, uitzonderen
  • uitsluitento exclude
  • uitzonderento exclude
  • bezwaar hebbento take exception, to object to
  • protesterento take exception, to object to
  • bezwaar makento take exception, to object to
  • behalveintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • uitgezonderdintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • behalveIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Esperanto escepti, krom
  • esceptito exclude
  • kromintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Finnish tehdä poikkeus, antaa erivapaus
  • tehdä poikkeusto exclude
  • antaa erivapausto exclude
  • vapauttaa (jostakin)to exclude
  • vastustaato take exception, to object to
  • muuta kuinintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • paitsiintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • lukuun ottamattaintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • pois lukienintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • paitsiIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
French faire une exception pour, excepter
  • faire une exception pourto exclude
  • excepterto exclude
  • objecterto take exception, to object to
  • protesterto take exception, to object to
  • s'élever contreto take exception, to object to
  • exceptéintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • saufintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • à l'exception deintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • hormisintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • si ce n'estIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
German ausnehmen, ausklammern
  • ausnehmento exclude
  • ausklammernto exclude
  • ausschließento exclude
  • widersprechento take exception, to object to
  • außerintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • bis aufintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • abgesehen vonintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • höchstensIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • bis aufIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • ausgenommenIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Greek εξαιρώ, διαφωνώ
  • εξαιρώ (exairó)to exclude
  • διαφωνώ (diafonó)to take exception, to object to
  • εκτός (ektós)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • εξαιρούμενου (exairoúmenou)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Hebrew פרט ל־, חוץ מ־
  • פרט ל־to exclude
  • חוץ מ־to exclude
  • חוץ מ־ (khúts mi-)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Hindi सिवाय
  • सिवाय (sivāy)Introducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Hungarian kizár, visszautasít
  • kizárto exclude
  • visszautasítto take exception, to object to
  • óvást emelto take exception, to object to
  • kivéveintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • kivételévelintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • kivéveIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Icelandic nema, nema
  • nemaintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • nemaIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Indonesian kecuali
  • kecualiIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Irish ach amháin, amháin
  • ach amháinintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • amháinintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • diomaite deintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • ach amháin goIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • amháin goIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Italian salvo, tranne
  • salvointroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • tranneintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • eccettointroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • fatto salvointroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Japanese 除く, 除外する
  • 除く (nozoku)to exclude
  • 除外する (jogai suru)to exclude
  • ...を除いて (...-o nozoite)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • ...以外は (...igai-wa)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Korean ... 말고는, ... 외에는
  • ... 말고는 (... malgoneun)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • ... 외에는 (... oeeneun)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • ...을 빼면 (...eul ppaemyeon)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Latin praeter, nisi
  • praeterintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • nisiIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Malay kecuali
  • kecualiintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Māori awere, hāunga
  • awereto exclude
  • hāungaintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Norwegian unnta, unngå
  • unntato exclude
  • unngåto take exception, to object to
  • unntattIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • bortsett fraIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • unnatekeIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • unnatekiIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Norwegian Bokmål utenom, bortsett fra
  • utenomintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • bortsett fraintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • unntattintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • unntagenintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Persian جز, بجز
  • جز (joz)to exclude
  • بجز (bejoz)to exclude
  • مگر (magar)to exclude
  • باستثنایto exclude
  • جز (joz)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Polish wykluczać, wykluczyć wyłączać
  • wykluczaćto exclude
  • wykluczyć wyłączaćto exclude
  • z wyjątkiemintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • opróczintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • poza tym żeIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • tyle żeIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Portuguese excepcionar, objetar
  • excepcionarto exclude
  • objetarto take exception, to object to
  • excetointroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • menosintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • foraintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • salvointroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • só queIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Romanian în afară de, cu excepția
  • în afară deintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • cu excepțiaintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • cu exceptiaIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Russian исключа́ть, исключи́ть
  • исключа́ть (isključátʹ)to exclude
  • исключи́ть (isključítʹ)to exclude
  • возража́ть (vozražátʹ)to take exception, to object to
  • возрази́ть (vozrazítʹ)to take exception, to object to
  • кро́ме (króme)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • исключа́я (isključája)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • за исключе́нием (za isključénijem)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • за исключе́нием того́, что (za isključénijem tovó, što)Introducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • кро́ме (króme)Introducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Slovak vylúčiť, okrem
  • vylúčiťto exclude
  • okremintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Spanish exceptuar, excepcionar
  • exceptuarto exclude
  • excepcionarto exclude
  • exceptointroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • salvointroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • exceptuandointroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • menosintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • zafointroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • exceptoIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • salvoIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • exceptuandoIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • menosIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • zafoIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Swahili ila
  • ilaintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Swedish förutom, bortsett från
  • förutomintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • bortsett frånintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • utomIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Tagalog maliban ang, maliban kay/maliban kina
  • maliban angintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • maliban kay/maliban kinaintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • maliban saintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • malibanIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Tamil தவிர
  • தவிர (tavira)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Thai ยกเว้น, ยกเว้น
  • ยกเว้น (yók-wén)to exclude
  • ยกเว้น (yók-wén)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Turkish dışında, hariç
  • dışındato exclude
  • hariçto exclude
  • ...-den başkaintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • -nın dışındaintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • hariçintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • hariçIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Ukrainian крім, о́крі́м
  • крім (krim)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • о́крі́м (ókrím)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • пріч (prič)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • опрі́ч (opríč)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • за ви́нятком (za výnjatkom)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Vietnamese ngoại trừ, trừ
  • ngoại trừto exclude
  • trừto exclude
  • trừ rato exclude
  • phản đốito take exception, to object to
  • chốngto take exception, to object to
  • trừintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • ngoại trừintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • trừ raintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • không kểintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
Welsh dieithr, ac eithrio
  • dieithrintroducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • ac eithrioIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • heblawIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
  • namynIntroducing a non-noun complement forming an exception or qualification
Yiddish אַחוץ, חוץ
  • אַחוץ (akhuts)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • חוץ (khuts)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification
  • אויסער (oyser)introducing a noun or noun phrase forming an exception or qualification

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with except

acceptseptsteppedsweptinterceptadeptineptpreppeddisceptsusceptyclept
All rhymes →

Sounds the same

accept (for some pronunciations)accept (for some pronunciations)accept (for some pronunciations)

Anagrams

expect
Cite this entry
APA

except. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/except

MLA

“except.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/except. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “except,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/except.

Source: except on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.