"for" definition, meaning, and origin

Conjunction

Because.
- 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. - 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...

Origin

Inherited from Middle English for, from Old English for (“for, because of”), from Proto-Germanic *furi (“for”), from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂-. Cognate with West Frisian foar (“for”), Dutch voor (“for”), German für (“for”), Danish for (“for”), Swedish för (“for”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk for (“for”), Icelandic fyrir (“for”), Latin per (“by, through, for, by means of”) and Romance language descendants (e.g. Spanish por (“for”)), Ancient Greek περί (perí, “for, about, toward”), Lithuanian per (“by, through, during”), Slovak pre (“for”), Sanskrit परि (pári, “over, around”).

Synonyms

given that seeing that

Particle

To; (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:
- [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...
- 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)

Preposition

Towards; in the direction of.
- The astronauts headed for the moon.
- Run for the hills!
- He was headed for the door when he remembered.
Leading towards in time or circumstance.
- We're heading for bankruptcy.
- He's set for graduating this year.
Directed at; intended to belong to.
- I have something for you.
- 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,...
In order to help, benefit, gratify, honor etc. (someone or something).
- Everything I do, I do for you.
- We're having a birthday party for Janet.
- The mayor gave a speech for the charity gala.
Befitting of someone’s beliefs, needs, wants, skills, or tastes; best suited to.
- 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.
To be used or treated in a stated way, or with a stated purpose or meaning.
- This is a new bell for my bicycle.
- The cake is for Tom and Helen's anniversary.
- This medicine is for your cough.
Supporting, in favour of.
- All those for the motion, raise your hands.
- Who's for ice-cream?
- I'm for going by train
Antonyms: against at
Because of.
- 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.
In order to cure, remove or counteract.
- I need to spray my house for termites.
- The doctor treated me for arthritis.
- We're protesting for climate change.
So as to allow (something or someone) to take position.
- Make way for the president!
- Clear the shelves for our new Christmas stock!
In anticipation of.
- Stand by for your cue.
- Prepare for battle.
As an evaluation of; as to evaluate in connection with.
- I am grading for style on this paper.
- History will judge you for your actions.
- We're investigating you for the robbery.

for

Conjunction

Origin

Synonyms

Particle

Related

Preposition

Forms

Antonyms

Derived