From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishforfor1 /fə; strong fɔː $ fər strong fɔːr/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition 1 PROVIDEused to say who is intended to get or use something, or where something is intended to be used I’ve got a present for you. Someone left a message for Vicky. an English course for foreign students We need a new battery for the radio. These chairs are for the office.2 INSTEADin order to help someone or something I looked after the kids for them. Let me carry that bag for you. The doctor knew that there was nothing he could do for her. Charles died fighting for his country. What can I do for you (=used to ask a customer if you can help them)?3 PURPOSEused to say what the purpose of an object, action etc isfor doing something a knife for cutting bread What did you do that for? I’ve bought him a watch for his birthday. the documents prepared for his defenceGRAMMAR: Comparisonfor doing something• You say that something is for doing a particular thing: This is for pulling up weeds. ✗Don’t say: This is for to pull up weeds.in order to do something• You say that someone does something in order to do a particular thing: They borrowed money in order to build up the business. ✗Don’t say: They needed money for to build up the business.to do something• You say that someone does something to do a particular thing: She went downtown to do some shopping. ✗Don’t say: She went downtown for to do some shopping.4 PURPOSEin order to have, do, get, or obtain something Are you waiting for the bus? the qualifications necessary for a career in broadcasting Mother was too ill to get up for dinner. I paid $3 for a ticket. For further details, write to this address. Let’s go for a walk.5 TIME/HOW LONGused to say how long an action or situation continues for Bake the cake for 40 minutes. We had been talking for a good half hour. He’s been off work for a while. 6 DISTANCEused to talk about distance We walked for miles. Factories stretch for quite a way along the canal.7 TIME THAT IS PLANNEDif something is arranged for a particular time, it is planned that it should happen then I’ve invited them for 9 o'clock. A meeting was arranged for 18th May.8 TOWARDSused to say where a person, vehicle etc is going I set off for work. the train for Manchester A few days later she would be leaving for New York.9 COSTused to say what the price or value of something is a cheque for a hundred pounds The diamond was insured for two thousand dollars.10 BECAUSEbecause of or as a result of something If, for any reason, you cannot attend, please inform us. We could hardly see for the mist. You’ll feel better for a break.for doing something a reward for making good progress Campbell was arrested for dangerous driving. 11 ABOUTused to say which thing or person your statement or question is related to I’m sure she’s the ideal person for the job. The questions on this paper are too difficult for 10-year-olds. Are you all right for money? Fortunately for him, he can swim.12 used to say which person or thing your feelings are directed towards I came away feeling sorry for poor old George. My deep love for him still remains. They show no respect for authority.13 used to say at which meal you eat something We had pasta for lunch.14 CONNECTED WITHused to say which company, team etc you belong to I’ve worked for the BBC ever since I left university. Deborah used to play for the A team. He writes for a weekly paper.15 SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLANsupporting or in agreement with something or someone We have studied the arguments for and against nuclear energy. How many people voted for the proposal? Three cheers for the captain.be all for (doing) something (=support something very much) I’m all for giving people more freedom. 16 MEANINGused to say what a word or sign means What’s the French word for ‘happy’? Red is for danger.17 THINK ABOUTused to say that a particular quality of someone or something is surprising when you consider what they are She looks young for her age. It’s cold for July.18 as a representative of other people Paisley claims to speak for the majority of local people.19 used to say what is possible, difficult, necessary, unusual etcfor somebody/something to do something It’s unusual for Donald to be so bad-tempered. There is an urgent need for someone to tackle this problem. Here is a chance for everyone to learn new skills. There’s nothing worse than for a parent to ill-treat a child. It was too far for her to walk in high-heeled shoes.20 → for each/every21 → something is not for somebody22 → it is (not) for somebody to do something23 → if it wasn’t/weren’t for somebody/something24 → that’s/there’s somebody/something for you!25 → be (in) for it
Examples from the Corpus
for• He placed an order for 200 copies.• Daniel's been complaining of a stomach ache for a couple of days.• a check for a hundred dollars• Alison is looking for a job.• I've known Kim for a long time.• I hadn't seen Tim for a while, and I was surprised by how much weight he'd gained.• "How long did you live in Spain?" "Oh, for about three years."• Are the Gardiners coming for dinner tonight?• I get £35 for each shift, plus tips.• Amelia worked for Exxon until last year.• I'm babysitting for Jo on Friday night.• For more information, write to the address below.• How many people voted for Mulhoney?• I made an appointment for October 18th.• For someone who is supposed to have very good taste, Jo wears some strange clothes.• He writes for the "Washington Post".• I only worked there for three months.• I usually leave for work at 7:30.• I have a present for you.• Congratulations! I'm really happy for you.for doing something• Mia got a ticket for driving through a red light.be all for (doing) something• The daredevil group, on the contrary, led by my cousin Ahmad, was all for meeting her.• But it was all for naught, anyway.• But in the end it was all for nothing, because I got pregnant anyway.• And it was all for nothing.• But steelworkers, desperate, unemployed, do not know any of this: they think it is all for real.• Terry was all for starting at once with the twenty dollars I had left.• He was all for the idea, and we exchanged addresses.• That will be all for today.for somebody/something to do something• I left my coat for it to be cleaned.• It's unusual for it to be so cold in June.• He must have had some bad news for him to be so quiet.• It's too difficult for me to explain.• There's nothing worse than for a parent to hit a child.• It's easy for a computer to keep a record of this information.• The plan is for us to leave on Friday to pick up Joe.• The cat is too high in the tree for me to reach her.• The dolphin was near enough for me to reach out and touch it.forfor2 ●●○ conjunction formal ALBECAUSEused to introduce the reason for something SYN because I cannot tell whether she is old or young, for I have never seen her. He found it increasingly difficult to read, for his eyesight was beginning to fail.Examples from the Corpus
for• He found it increasingly difficult to read, for his eyes were failing.From Longman Business DictionaryFORFOR TRANSPORTabbreviation for FREE ON RAIL → see under IncotermOrigin for1 Old English 