but what

phrase

: that … not

—used to indicate possibility or uncertainty

I don't know but what I will go.

Examples of but what in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Physicists often talk about time as a fourth dimension, but what if there were a fourth spatial dimension — another direction entirely? — Quanta Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026

Amazon took creative control of the Ian Fleming spy franchise in 2025, handing the keys to a new team that will decide not only who plays 007, but what the next era looks like. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026

The strategic question is not how much information can sit behind the code, but what customers should be able to know or do after scanning it. — Paula Rivero, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The survey questions haven't changed but what the report emphasizes or omits has. — Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for but what

• abut
• catgut
• chesnut
• chestnut
• donut
• doughnut
• groundnut
• haircut
• hindgut
• midgut
• precut
• rebut