For

How to spell for

3 letters · 1 syllable

How to pronounce for

What does for mean?

1. prepositionUsed to indicate purpose, recipient, duration, or exchange.
2. conjunctionBecause; introducing a reason in a formal or literary tone.

For in a sentence

• preposition

  She bought a present for her colleague.

• conjunction

  She packed an umbrella, for the forecast looked grim.

• preposition

  They waited for an hour before the train arrived.

• conjunction

  We left early, for the roads were likely to be icy.

Where does for come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

This is one of the oldest words in English, descending directly from Old English 'for', a preposition meaning 'before', 'on account of', or 'in place of'. It traces back to a Proto-Germanic form related to 'fore' and ultimately to a root meaning 'in front' or 'forward', which is why 'for', 'fore', 'forth', and 'before' all cluster together. The sense gradually broadened from a physical idea of being in front of something to the abstract notions of purpose, exchange, and benefit that dominate the modern word. The conjunction use, meaning 'because', grew out of the same root and is now slightly formal or literary. Because it sounds identical to 'four' (the number) and 'fore' (front), the spelling trap is purely about choosing the right one of three homophones, not about the letters within 'for' itself.

How the word is built

• for (Old English fore/for: before, on account of), an unanalysable root word with no prefix or suffix

Words that sound like for

They sound the same but mean different things, so the meaning decides which spelling to write.

• fore: Situated at or towards the front, especially of a ship.
• four: The cardinal number equal to three plus one, written as 4.