except

except

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Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling: /ɪkˈsɛpt/

Syllable Breakdown:

• ɪk-: The vowel sound is a schwa /ɪ/ as in "kit," followed by a voiceless velar stop /k/.

• -sɛpt: The consonant sound is a voiceless alveolar fricative /s/, followed by the vowel sound /ɛ/ as in "dress," a voiceless bilabial stop /p/, and a voiceless alveolar stop /t/.

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Word Form Variations

• Verb: except (base form), excepts (3rd person singular present), excepted (past tense, past participle), excepting (present participle)

• Preposition: except

• Conjunction: except

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Preposition

• Definition: Not including; with the exclusion of someone or something.

• Synonyms: excluding, barring, omitting, apart from, aside from

• Antonyms: including, incorporating, adding

Conjunction

• Definition: Used to introduce a clause that states something that forms an exception to what has just been stated.

• Synonyms: unless, save that (archaic), only

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as a conjunction, as it functions to introduce an exception, rather than an inclusion.)

 Verb

• Definition 1: To exclude or leave out from a general statement or group.

• Synonyms: exclude, omit, leave out, disregard, rule out

• Antonyms: include, add, incorporate, admit, embrace

• Definition 2: To object; to take exception to. (Often used in legal or formal contexts.)

• Synonyms: object, demur, protest, challenge, dispute

• Antonyms: agree, approve, accept, consent, concur

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Examples of Use

• Books: "Everyone was accounted for, except for the new intern who had called in sick that morning." (From a contemporary mystery novel, exact title and author not cited as per instructions)

• Newspapers: "All flights to the southern region have been canceled, except for essential cargo deliveries." (The Daily Chronicle, May 2024)

• Online Publications: "Our new privacy policy applies to all users globally, except where local regulations mandate different terms." (TechInsights Blog, April 2025)

• Entertainment Mediums (Film): "We had planned to spend the entire summer traveling, except that the car broke down on the very first day." (Dialogue from a romantic comedy film, title not cited)

• Entertainment Mediums (Television): "The detective found no fingerprints on the weapon, except for a faint smudge on the handle." (From a police procedural drama, title not cited)

• Entertainment Platforms (Video Games): "You can access all areas of the map except for the forbidden forest until you complete the main quest." (In-game tutorial text from an open-world RPG, title not cited)

• General Public Discourse: "I'd love to go hiking this weekend, except I have to work." (Casual conversation between friends)

• General Public Discourse (Speech): "The proposal was accepted by everyone on the committee, except for one dissenting member who raised concerns about the budget." (Statement made during a public town hall meeting)

• Online Forum/Social Media: "Finally finished cleaning the whole house except for my room, that's a job for tomorrow!" (User post on a social media platform, June 2025)

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10 Quotes Using Except

1. "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." (Benjamin Franklin)

2. "I can resist everything except temptation." (Oscar Wilde)

3. "There is nothing permanent except change." (Heraclitus)

4. "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." (Jackie Robinson)

5. "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried." (Winston Churchill)

6. "Nothing in life is promised except death." (Kanye West)

7. "Life has no limitations, except the ones you make." (Les Brown)

8. "God does nothing except in response to believing prayer." (John Wesley)

9. "Everything has been figured out, except how to live." (Jean-Paul Sartre)

10. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent, except you." (Eleanor Roosevelt, adapted from "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.")

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Etymology

The word "except" comes from Latin roots and has quite a straightforward journey into English.

It started with the Latin verb excipere, which literally means "to take out" or "to receive." This word is made up of two parts:

• ex-: meaning "out of" or "from"

• capere: meaning "to take"

So, if you "take something out of" a group, you are essentially excluding it.

When excipere came into Old French, it became excepter, keeping that core meaning of "to exclude" or "to make an exception."

Finally, it arrived in Middle English in the 14th century as excepten (as a verb) and except (as a preposition). Its first known use in English (around the late 1300s) carried the meaning of "to leave out" or "to make an exclusion." For example, you might say "all the apples are ripe, except for this one," meaning you're leaving that one out of the group of ripe apples.

Over time, it also developed its uses as a conjunction ("unless") and occasionally as an adjective, but the fundamental idea of "taking something out" or "excluding" has remained at its heart.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Except

1. Except for: This is a very common phrase, meaning "other than" or "excluding."

• Example: "The whole team was there, except for John."

2. Except that: Used to introduce a clause that specifies an exception or a limitation.

• Example: "I would go, except that I have a prior engagement."

3. Except when: Similar to "except that," but specifically for a temporal exception.

• Example: "He's always punctual, except when there's heavy traffic."

4. Except as provided: A more formal, often legal or technical phrase meaning "other than in the way specified."

• Example: "No data shall be disclosed except as provided by the terms of this agreement."

5. Except: A formal way to say "except for."

• Example: "Except Tuesdays, the library is open daily."

6. Take exception to: To object strongly to something; to find fault with. (Here "exception" itself is the noun, but it embodies the idea of "excepting" or excluding agreement).

• Example: "I must take exception to your last comment."

Phrases with Synonyms for Similar Effect (Focusing on Exclusion/Exception):

1. Barring all else: Meaning "if nothing else prevents it" or "excluding all other obstacles."

• Example: "Barring all else, we should be finished by noon."

2. Aside from that: Means "other than that."

• Example: "The meeting was productive; aside from that, there's nothing much to report."

3. No ifs, ands, or buts: Means no exceptions or excuses.

• Example: "You'll clean your room, no ifs, ands, or buts!"

4. Rule out: To exclude something as a possibility.

Example: "We can rule out a technical malfunction."

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of except from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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