for

1. formalliteraryBecause.

   I had to stay with my wicked stepmother, for I had nowhere else to go.

   4 more examples

   […]Dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skillful and deadly.

   c. 1601, William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, act 3, scene 4

   […]nor is there found, in sea or on land, a sweeter or pleasanter of gifts than she; for she is prime in comeliness and seemlihead of face and symmetrical shape of perfect grace; her check is ruddy dight, her brow flower white, her teeth gem-bright, her eyes blackest black and whitest white, her hips of heavy weight, her waist slight and her favour exquisite.

   1885, Richard Francis Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night

   "By means of the Golden Cap I shall command the Winged Monkeys to carry you to the gates of the Emerald City," said Glinda, "for it would be a shame to deprive the people of so wonderful a ruler."

   1900, L[yman] Frank Baum, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

   Let me root, root, root for the home team, / If they don't win, it's a shame. / For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, / At the old ball game.

   1908, Jack Norworth, Albert Von Tilzer, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”, performed by Edward Meeker

   Synonyms: given that, seeing that

alternative fa · alternative fo · alternative foh · alternative fo' · alternative fur · alternative fuh · alternative fer

1. Towards; in the direction of.

   Run for the hills!

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   The astronauts headed for the moon.

   He was headed for the door when he remembered.

   Wee ſailed from Peru, (where wee had continued by the ſpace of one whole yeare,) for China and Iapan, by the South Sea; [...]

   1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 1

2. Leading towards in time or circumstance.

   We're heading for bankruptcy.

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   He's set for graduating this year.

3. Directed at; intended to belong to.

   I have something for you.

   1 more example

   Maya Erwin, Vice President of Marketing & Innovation at Blue Diamond added in a press release: “Partnering with Mike’s Hot Honey allowed us to create something truly unique for snack lovers.

   2025 March 5, Ayomari, “Blue Diamond Almonds Gets Swicy With Mike’s Hot Honey”, in Foodbeast, archived from the original on 06 Apr 2025

4. In order to help, benefit, gratify, honor etc. (someone or something).

   Everything I do, I do for you.

   3 more examples

   We're having a birthday party for Janet.

   The mayor gave a speech for the charity gala.

   You, telling me the things you're gonna do for me.

   1976, Michael McDonald, “Takin' It to the Streets”, performed by The Doobie Brothers

5. Befitting of someone's beliefs, needs, wants, skills, or tastes; best suited to.

   I’ll strike a blow for you.

   1 more example

   If having to bag the groceries correctly is more than you can handle, then this isn't the job for you.

6. To be used or treated in a stated way, or with a stated purpose or meaning.

   'Adieu' is French for goodbye.

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   This is a new bell for my bicycle.

   The cake is for Tom and Helen's anniversary.

   This medicine is for your cough.

   These apples here are for eating. The rest are for throwing away.

   I'll buy something for killing cockroaches. We must find something to kill them all.

7. Supporting, in favour of.

   Who's for ice-cream?

   4 more examples

   All those for the motion, raise your hands.

   I'm for going by train

   Ten voted for, and three against.

   "I'll go round presently, and pay our friend off." Rather alarmed by this summary action, I was for a little delay, and even hinted that our friend himself might be difficult to deal with.

   1860 December – 1861 August, Charles Dickens, chapter XI, in Great Expectations […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published October 1861, →OCLC, page 180

   Antonyms: against, at

8. Because of.

   I jumped for joy.

   5 more examples

   He wouldn't apologize; and just for that, she refused to help him.

   He looks better for having lost weight.

   She was the worse for drink.

   I like her for lots of reasons.

   with fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath

   c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v]

9. In order to cure, remove or counteract.

   The doctor treated me for arthritis.

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   I need to spray my house for termites.

   We're protesting for climate change.

10. So as to allow (something or someone) to take position.

    Make way for the president!

    1 more example

    Clear the shelves for our new Christmas stock!

11. In anticipation of.

    Prepare for battle.

    1 more example

    Stand by for your cue.

12. As an evaluation of; as to evaluate in connection with.

    I am grading for style on this paper.

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    History will judge you for your actions.

    We're investigating you for the robbery.

13. So as to identify or locate.

    Police combed his flat for clues.

    1 more example

    They swept the area for enemy operatives.

14. Over (a period of time).

    I've lived here for three years.

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    They fought for days over a silly pencil.

    The store is closed for the day.

    To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day.

    1717, Joseph Addison, Metamorphoses

15. Throughout or across (a distance in space).

    I can see for miles.

    1 more example

    For many miles about / There's scarce a bush.

    c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]

16. Used to introduce a subject of a to-infinitive clause.

    I don't think it's a good idea for you and me to meet.

    2 more examples

    It seems unreasonable for our boss to withhold our wages.

    For you and me to meet is not a good idea because I'm not eager for it to be a success.

17. On behalf of.

    I will stand in for him.

    1 more example

    I speak for the Prime Minister.

18. In the role or capacity of; instead of; in place of.

    I used a hay bale for a bed.

    1 more example

    He's got a turnip for a brain.

19. In exchange for; in correspondence or equivalence with.

    He matched me blow for blow.

    2 more examples

    I got five hundred pounds for that old car!

    And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 21:23-24

20. In order to obtain or acquire.

    He's going for his doctorate.

    5 more examples

    I am aiming for completion by the end of business Thursday.

    Do you want to go for coffee?

    People all over Greece looked to Delphi for answers.

    After a split second of hesitation, the second baseman leaped for the ball—or, rather, stumbled for it.

    Can you go to the store for some eggs?

21. By the standards of, usually with the implication that those standards are lower than one might otherwise expect; considering as an example of a role or of limitations.

    Fair for its day.

    3 more examples

    She's spry for an old lady.

    He's very mature, for a two-year-old.

    He's okay for a cop.

22. To be, or as being.

    Don't take me for a fool.

    5 more examples

    17th century Abraham Cowley, Of Wit We take a falling meteor for a star.

    if a man can be persuaded and fully assured of anything for a truth without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for truth ?

    a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC

    Most of our ingenious young men take up some cry'd-up English poet for their model.

    c. 1690, John Dryden, Translations (Preface)

    But let her go for an ungrateful woman.

    1712, Ambrose Philips, The Distrest Mother

    They knew him for a stranger.

    1976, Louis L’Amour, chapter 2, in The Rider of Lost Creek, Bantam Dell, →ISBN

23. usually in the phrase 'for all'Despite, in spite of.

    For all his expensive education, he didn't seem very bright.

    3 more examples

    "You must keep your head. There is still hope." "Hope!" "Yes; plentiful hope -- for all this destruction!"

    1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 113

    1892 August 6, "The Unbidden Guest", in Charles Dickens, Jr. (editor), All the Year Round, page 133, Mr. Joseph Blenkinshaw was perhaps not worth quite so much as was reported; but for all that he was a very wealthy man […]

    For all his faults, there had been something lofty and great about him - as a judge, as a patron of education, as a builder, as an international figure.

    1968, J. J. Scarisbrick, Henry VIII, page 240

24. Indicating something desired or anticipated.

    Ah! for wings to soar …

    4 more examples

    O for the wings of a dove.

    And now for a slap-up meal!

    O For a Muſe of Fire, that would aſcend / The brighteſt Heauen of Inuention :

    1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act PROLOGUE, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]

    Oh! but to breathe the air / By their side under summer skies! To watch the blush on their cheeks, / The light in their liquid eyes. / Oh! but for one short hour, / To whisper a word of love; […]

    1858 March 27, “The Lay of the Brief”, in Punch, Or, The London Charivari, page 129

25. Introducing the first item(s) in a potential sequence.

    For another, we don't have any equipment.

    1 more example

    Go scuba diving? For one thing, I can't even swim.

26. USIn honor of; after.

    He is named for his grandfather.

27. UKDue for or facing (a certain outcome or fate).

    He totally screwed up that project. Now he's surely for the sack.

28. USOut of; used to indicate a fraction, a ratio

    In term of base hits, Jones was three for four on the day

29. businessFor the price of.

    Special offer: three for two.

30. ball gamesUsed as part of a score to indicate the number of wickets that have fallen.

    At close of play, England were 305 for 3.

31. obsoleteIndicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done.

    We'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet.

    1609–1612, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Captaine”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act III, scene v

32. nonstandardSo (that), in order to.

    He took the swing shift for he could get more overtime.

33. Used in various other more-or-less idiomatic ways to construe individual verbs, indicating various semantic relationships such as target, purpose, result, etc.; see also the entries for individual phrasal verbs, e.g. ask for, look for, stand for, etc.

    to account for one's whereabouts    to care for a relative    to settle for second best    to allow for mistakes

34. human sciencesUsed to introduce a variable subject to quantification, or to establish a restricting domain for a subsequent mathematical statement.

    The identity f(x+y) = f(x) + f(y) holds for all x,y ∈ G.

    2008, Terence Tao, Structure and Randomness: Pages from Year One of a Mathematical Blog, American Mathematical Society, →ISBN, page 43

    1 more example

    For each set A, there is a set B whose elements are exactly the subsets of A. For x > 0, the function ln(x) is strictly increasing.

    2014, Herbert B. Enderton, Elements of Set Theory, Academic Press, page 19

1. datedAfrican-American VernacularTo; (the particle for marking the following verb as an infinitive).

   Ugh—I’ll not be able for get up. Send for M’sieu le Curé—I’ll be goin’ for die for sure.

   1896, McClure's magazine, page 270

   2 more examples

   [It was a] firs rate place for shoot a woodcocks, I tell you. […] I say [it] wass no use for spen money. […] An I say in "So wass I. I see lot of sy-pokes fly up an twist off like screw-cork an spit whistle, but I wass'nt able for get aim on him."

   1898 December 17, “Mr. Owens' Experience”, in Forest and Stream, volume 51, page 485

   She say that when nigger people step out o’ they place and start for rub shoulders with Bacra, trouble just ‘round the corner.

   2007, H. Nigel Thomas, Return to Arcadia: A Novel (Tsar Publications)

1. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of field Of research.
2. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of frame of reference.

1. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Fellowship of Reconciliation, any of a number of religious nonviolent organizations, particularly in English-speaking countries.