for

[[t]fɔr[/t]] unstressed [[t]fər[/t]]

prep.

1) with the object or purpose of:

to run for exercise[/ex]

2) intended to belong to or be used in connection with:

equipment for the army; a closet for dishes[/ex]

3) suiting the purposes or needs of:

medicine for the aged[/ex]

4) in order to obtain, gain, or acquire:

to work for wages[/ex]

5) (used to express a wish, as of something to be experienced or obtained):

O, for a cold drink![/ex]

6) sensitive or responsive to:

an eye for beauty[/ex]

7) desirous of:

a longing for adventure[/ex]

8) in consideration or payment of; in return for:

three for a dollar[/ex]

9) appropriate or adapted to:

a subject for speculation; clothes for winter[/ex]

10) with regard or respect to:

pressed for time[/ex]

11) during the continuance of:

for a long time[/ex]

12) in favor of; on the side of:

to be for honest government[/ex]

13) in place of; instead of:

a substitute for butter[/ex]

14) in the interest of; on behalf of:

to act for a client[/ex]

15) in exchange for; as an offset to:

blow for blow[/ex]

16) in punishment of:

payment for the crime[/ex]

17) in honor of:

to give a dinner for a person[/ex]

18) with the purpose of reaching:

to start for London[/ex]

19) contributive to:

for the advantage of everybody[/ex]

20) in order to save:

to flee for one's life[/ex]

21) in order to become:

to train recruits for soldiers[/ex]

22) in assignment or attribution to:

That's for you to decide[/ex]

23) such as to allow of or to require:

too many for separate mention[/ex]

24) such as results in:

my reason for going[/ex]

25) as affecting the interests or circumstances of:

bad for one's health[/ex]

26) in proportion or with reference to:

He is tall for his age[/ex]

27) in the character of; as being:

to know a thing for a fact[/ex]

28) by reason of; because of:

to shout for joy[/ex]

29) in spite of:

They're decent people for all that[/ex]

30) to the extent or amount of:

to walk for a mile[/ex]

31) (used to introduce a subject in an infinitive phrase):

It's time for me to go[/ex]

32) cvb spo (used to indicate the number of successes out of a specified number of attempts):

The batter was 2 for 3 in the game[/ex]

33) fun seeing that; since

34) fun because

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME, OE