Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *pr̥h₂-i Proto-Germanic *furi Proto-West Germanic *furi Old English for Middle English for English for 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”).
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:
3 more examples
[…]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:
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *pr̥h₂-i Proto-Germanic *furi Proto-West Germanic *furi Old English for Middle English for English for 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”).
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.
He's set for graduating this year.
3
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, “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.
We're having a birthday party for Janet.
2 more examples
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.
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.
This is a new bell for my bicycle.
The cake is for Tom and Helen's anniversary.
4 more examples
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.
7
Supporting, in favour of.
All those for the motion, raise your hands.
Who's for ice-cream?
3 more examples
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:
8
Because of.
He wouldn't apologize; and just for that, she refused to help him.
He looks better for having lost weight.
4 more examples
She was the worse for drink.
I like her for lots of reasons.
I jumped for joy.
with fiery eyes sparkling for very wrathc. 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.
I need to spray my house for termites.
The doctor treated me for arthritis.
1 more example
We're protesting for climate change.
10
So as to allow (something or someone) to take position.
Make way for the president!
Clear the shelves for our new Christmas stock!
11
In anticipation of.
Stand by for your cue.
Prepare for battle.
12
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.
1 more example
We're investigating you for the robbery.
13
So as to identify or locate.
They swept the area for enemy operatives.
Police combed his flat for clues.
14
Over (a period of time).
I've lived here for three years.
They fought for days over a silly pencil.
2 more examples
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.
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.
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.
1 more example
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.
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.
He's got a turnip for a brain.
19
In exchange for; in correspondence or equivalence with.
I got five hundred pounds for that old car!
He matched me blow for blow.
1 more example
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.
I am aiming for completion by the end of business Thursday.
He's going for his doctorate.
4 more examples
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.
Fair for its day.
She's spry for an old lady.
1 more example
He's very mature, for a two-year-old.
22
To be, or as being.
Don't take me for a fool.
17th century Abraham Cowley, Of Wit We take a falling meteor for a star.
4 more examples
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
Despite, in spite of.
Usually in the phrase 'for all'
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!"1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 113:
2 more examples
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.
O for the wings of a dove.
Ah! for wings to soar …
3 more examples
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 .
In expressions such as 'for a start'
Go scuba diving? For one thing, I can't even swim.
Ball games, Cricket, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Used as part of a score to indicate the number of wickets that have fallen.
At close of play, England were 305 for 3.
31
Obsolete Indicating 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:
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 sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Sciences Used 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:
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
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *pr̥h₂-i Proto-Germanic *furi Proto-West Germanic *furi Old English for Middle English for English for 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”).
1
Dated To; (the particle for marking the following verb as an infinitive).
African-American Vernacular
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 wass'nt able for get aim on him."1898 December 17, “Mr. Owens' Experience”, in Forest and Stream, volume 51, page 485:
1 more example
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)