for

/fawr/; unstressed /feuhr/, prep.

1. with the object or purpose of: to run for exercise.

2. intended to belong to, or be used in connection with: equipment for the army; a closet for dishes.

3. suiting the purposes or needs of: medicine for the aged.

4. in order to obtain, gain, or acquire: a suit for alimony; to work for wages.

5. (used to express a wish, as of something to be experienced or obtained): O, for a cold drink!

6. sensitive or responsive to: an eye for beauty.

7. desirous of: a longing for something; a taste for fancy clothes.

8. in consideration or payment of; in return for: three for a dollar; to be thanked for one's efforts.

9. appropriate or adapted to: a subject for speculation; clothes for winter.

10. with regard or respect to: pressed for time; too warm for April.

11. during the continuance of: for a long time.

12. in favor of; on the side of: to be for honest government.

13. in place of; instead of: a substitute for butter.

14. in the interest of; on behalf of: to act for a client.

15. in exchange for; as an offset to: blow for blow; money for goods.

16. in punishment of: payment for the crime.

17. in honor of: to give a dinner for a person.

18. with the purpose of reaching: to start for London.

19. contributive to: for the advantage of everybody.

20. in order to save: to flee for one's life.

21. in order to become: to train recruits for soldiers.

22. in assignment or attribution to: an appointment for the afternoon; That's for you to decide.

23. such as to allow of or to require: too many for separate mention.

24. such as results in: his reason for going.

25. as affecting the interests or circumstances of: bad for one's health.

26. in proportion or with reference to: He is tall for his age.

27. in the character of; as being: to know a thing for a fact.

28. by reason of; because of: to shout for joy; a city famed for its beauty.

29. in spite of: He's a decent guy for all that.

30. to the extent or amount of: to walk for a mile.

31. (used to introduce a subject in an infinitive phrase): It's time for me to go.

32. (used to indicate the number of successes out of a specified number of attempts): The batter was 2 for 4 in the game.

33. for it, Brit. See in (def. 21).

conj.

34. seeing that; since.

35. because.

[bef. 900; ME, OE; c. OS for; akin to FORE¹, L per through, Gk pró before, ahead]

Syn. 34. See because.

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