Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - for

~1 strong,; strong ~ prep 1 intended to be given to or belong to a particular person  (I've got a present for you. | Save some for Arthur.) 2 intended to be used in a particular situation  (We've bought some new chairs for the office. | a name-plate for the door) 3 used to show the purpose of an object, action, etc  (a knife for cutting bread | What did you do that for? | a space just large enough for a table and two chairs | for sale/hire/rent (=available to be bought, hired))  (House for sale. | They have tools and garden equipment for hire.) 4 if you do something for someone, you do it instead of them in order to help them  (I looked after the kids for her. | Let me lift that for you.) 5 if something is done for someone, or if they are given something for a problem, they are helped or their situation is improved  (The doctor knew that there was nothing he could do for her. | I've found it for you. | I'll do what I can for you. | What can I do for you? (=can I help you?)) 6 if something is arranged for a particular time, it is planned that it should happen then  (I've invited them for 9 o'clock. | I've made an appointment for 18th October. | It's time for supper.) 7 if you buy someone something, or arrange an event for their birthday etc, you do it to celebrate that occasion  (What did you get for your birthday?) 8 used to express a length of time  (Bake the cake for 40 minutes. | They had been walking for a good half hour. | I've been meaning to ask you for ages. | He's been off work for a long time. | for a while)  (I'm borrowing it for a while.)  (- see during, since3) 9 for now/for the moment used to say that you are suggesting something as a temporary solution, but it may be changed later  (I think for now we're just going to have to keep the cats in the house.) 10 used to express distance  (We walked for miles. | Factories and warehouses stretched for quite a distance along the canal.) 11 used to state where a person, vehicle etc is going  (I set off for work. | the night before leaving for New York | the train for Manchester | I'm for bed/home BrE (=I'm going to bed/going home)) 12 used to show a price or amount  (a cheque for a hundred pounds | The diamond was insured for two thousand dollars.) 13 in order to have, do, get, or obtain something  (She decided to look for a job. | Mother was too ill to get up for dinner. | the qualifications necessary for entry to university | I paid $3 for it. | an expert whom you can rely on for advice | For further details, write to this address. | Let's go for a walk. | We just did it for fun. | waiting for the bus | legislating for equality | run for your life (=to save your life)) 14 now for spoken used to say what you're going to have or do now  (Now for some fun!) 15 because of or as a result of something  (if, for any reason, you cannot attend ... | a reward for bravery | We could hardly see for the mist. | A certain amount must be deducted for depreciation. | for doing sth)  (He got a ticket for driving through a red light.) 16 as to or concerning something  (I felt sorry for him. | He has a talent for upsetting people. | I'm sure she's the ideal person for the job. | We had pasta for lunch. | Fortunately for him, he can swim. | The success rates for each task are given in Table 4. | too...for me/her etc (=more than I can deal with))  (You're too quick for me! | he's a great one for (=he always wants or is concerned with))  (He's a great one for details. | Are you all right for money? (=do you have enough?) | ...is not for me (=is not suitable or appropriate for me))  (City life is not for me.) 17 if you work for a company, play for a team etc, this is the one in which you work, play etc  (surveyors working for property services | He writes for a weekly paper. | She plays for the A team.) 18 in favour of, supporting, or in agreement with something  (discussing the case for and against nuclear energy | How many people voted for the proposal? | Three cheers for the captain. | I'm all for (=I approve of))  (I'm all for people enjoying themselves.) 19 representing, meaning, or as a sign of something  (What's the word for `happy' in French? | Red is for danger.) 20 used after a comparative form to mean after, as a result of, or because of  (You'll feel better for a break.) 21 used to say that a particular feature of someone or something is surprising when you consider what they are  (It's cold for the time of year. | She looks young for her age.) 22 for sb/sth to do sth a) used to introduce a phrase that is used instead of a clause (2)  (It is really unusual for Michael to get cross. | I can't bear for sb/sth to)  (I can't bear for you to be unhappy. | nothing worse/easier than for sb/sth to)  (There's nothing worse than for a parent to ill treat a child.) b) used when you are describing what someone should do, might do, or has done  (The plan is for us to leave in the morning. | a need/desire/chance for sb/sth to)  (There is an urgent need for someone to tackle this problem. | There will be another opportunity for them to do it again.) c) used when you are explaining a reason for something  (He must have had some bad news for him to be so quiet. (=as/since he is so quiet) | I've sent off my coat for it to be cleaned. (=in order that it may be cleaned)) d) used when you are saying what someone or something is able to do  (It's easy for a computer to keep a record of this information. | It's impossible for me to get money out of Dorothy. | large/difficult/near enough for sb/sth to)  (The dolphin was near enough for me to reach out and touch it. | too large/difficult/near for sb/sth to)  (It's too difficult for me to explain.) 23 for each/every used to say that each of one kind of thing has or will have something of another kind  (For each mistake, you'll lose half a point. | For every three people who agree, you'll find five who don't.) 24 for all a) in spite of  (For all his efforts, he still came last. | She still loves him for all that.) b) considering how little  (For all the success you've had, you might just as well have not bothered!) 25 for all I know/care spoken used to say that you do not really know or care  (For all I know, he could be dead. | He can jump into the river for all I care!) 26 I wouldn't do it for anything informal used to emphasize that you definitely would not do it  (I would not go through that again for anything.) 27 I for one believe/think that... spoken this is my opinion, even if no one else agrees  (I for one believe that she's making a big mistake.) 28 for one thing... (and for another) used when you are giving reasons for a statement you have made  (No, I'm not going to buy it; for one thing I don't like the colour, and for another it's far too expensive.) 29 if it weren't for/if it hadn't been for if a particular thing had not happened, if someone had not done something, or if a situation was different  (If it hadn't been for you, I would not be alive now.) 30 (well,) that's/there's...for you! spoken a) used to say that it is typical that something has been a disappointment; you cannot expect anything better of that type of thing  (That's foreign hotels for you!) b) used to say that something is the complete opposite of what you were saying  (I gave it to her and she just threw it away; there's gratitude for you!) 31 be (in) for it to be likely to be blamed or punished  (You'll be in for it if she finds out what you've done!) ~2 conjunction formal used to introduce the reason for something; because  (He found it increasingly difficult to read, for his eyes were failing.)