for — English Dictionary

Conjunction

1. Because.

   Usage

   • Formal
   • Literary

   Synonyms

   given thatseeing that

   Examples

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

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

   More examples (3)

   […]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.

   "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."

   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.

Preposition

1. Towards; in the direction of.

   Examples

   The astronauts headed for the moon.

   Run for the hills!

   More examples (2)

   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; [...]

2. Leading towards in time or circumstance.

   Examples

   We're heading for bankruptcy.

   He's set for graduating this year.

3. Directed at; intended to belong to.

   Examples

   I have something for you.

   More examples (1)

   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.

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

   Examples

   Everything I do, I do for you.

   We're having a birthday party for Janet.

   More examples (2)

   The mayor gave a speech for the charity gala.

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

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

   Examples

   I’ll strike a blow for you.

   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.

   Examples

   This is a new bell for my bicycle.

   The cake is for Tom and Helen's anniversary.

   More examples (5)

   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.

   'Adieu' is French for goodbye.

   Hammers are for knocking nails in, not for smashing my windows!

7. Supporting, in favour of.

   Antonyms

   againstat

   Examples

   All those for the motion, raise your hands.

   Who's for ice-cream?

   More examples (3)

   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.

8. Because of.

   Examples

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

   He looks better for having lost weight.

   More examples (6)

   She was the worse for drink.

   I like her for lots of reasons.

   I jumped for joy.

   with fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath

   "A summerly day for you," said my host; "You ought to be here in winter. It is impossible then to get out of the doors for the snow and wind. Ugh! dreadful weather!"

   I could not see his hands, for the thick gloves he wore, and his face was partially concealed by a red woollen comforter; but his entire appearance and manners tallied with what I had seen of Yorkshire farmerhood.

9. In order to cure, remove or counteract.

   Examples

   I need to spray my house for termites.

   The doctor treated me for arthritis.

   More examples (1)

   We're protesting for climate change.

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

    Examples

    Make way for the president!

    Clear the shelves for our new Christmas stock!

11. In anticipation of.

    Examples

    Stand by for your cue.

    Prepare for battle.

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

    Examples

    I am grading for style on this paper.

    History will judge you for your actions.

    More examples (1)

    We're investigating you for the robbery.

13. So as to identify or locate.

    Examples

    They swept the area for enemy operatives.

    Police combed his flat for clues.

14. Over (a period of time).

    Examples

    I've lived here for three years.

    They fought for days over a silly pencil.

    More examples (2)

    The store is closed for the day.

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

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

    Examples

    I can see for miles.

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

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

    Examples

    It seems unreasonable for our boss to withhold our wages.

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

    More examples (1)

    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.

    Examples

    I will stand in for him.

    I speak for the Prime Minister.

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

    Examples

    I used a hay bale for a bed.

    He's got a turnip for a brain.

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

    Examples

    I got five hundred pounds for that old car!

    He matched me blow for blow.

    More examples (1)

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

20. In order to obtain or acquire.

    Examples

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

    He's going for his doctorate.

    More examples (10)

    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?

    I'm saving up for a car.

    Don't wait for an answer.

    What did he ask you for?

    All this sun spoils me for vacations in the far North.

    Let's go out for dinner.

    For we would have you know it, / The loſs will fall on us, not on the Poet: / For he writes not for money, nor for praiſe, / Nor to be call'd a Wit, nor to wear Bayes: […]

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.

    Examples

    Fair for its day.

    She's spry for an old lady.

    More examples (2)

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

    He's okay for a cop.

22. To be, or as being.

    Examples

    Don't take me for a fool.

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

    More examples (5)

    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 ?

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

    But let her go for an ungrateful woman.

    They knew him for a stranger.

    I would advise anyone who does not share its politics — surely the great majority of gay men and lesbians — to shun NOLAG for the anachronistic zombie it is.

23. Despite, in spite of.

    Examples

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

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

    More examples (2)

    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.

24. Indicating something desired or anticipated.

    Examples

    O for the wings of a dove.

    Ah! for wings to soar …

    More examples (3)

    And now for a slap-up meal!

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

    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; […]

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

    Usage

    • in expressions such as ‘for a start’

    Examples

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

    For another, we don't have any equipment.

26. In honor of; after.

    Usage

    • US usage
    • with names

    Examples

    He is named for his grandfather.

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

    Usage

    • UK usage

    Examples

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

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

    Usage

    • US usage

    Examples

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

29. For the price of.

    Examples

    Special offer: three for two.

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

    Examples

    At close of play, England were 305 for 3.

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

    Usage

    • Obsolete

    Examples

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

32. So (that), in order to.

    Usage

    • nonstandard

    Examples

    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.

    Examples

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

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

    Examples

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

    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.

Particle

1. To; (the particle for marking the following verb as an infinitive).

   Usage

   • Dated

   Related words

   for to

   Examples

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

   More examples (1)

   [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."

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