for

conjunction

1. Because.

preposition

1. Towards.

- The astronauts headed for the moon.

2. Directed at, intended to belong to.

- I have something for you.

3. Supporting (opposite of against).

- All those for the motion raise your hands.

4. Because of.

5. Over a period of time.

- I've lived here for three years.

- They fought for days over a silly pencil.

6. Throughout an extent of space.

7. On behalf of.

- I will stand in for him.

8. Instead of, or in place of.

9. In order to obtain or acquire.

- I am aiming for completion by the end of business Thursday.

- He's going for his doctorate.

- Do you want to go for coffee?

10. In the direction of: marks a point one is going toward.

- Run for the hills!

- He was headed for the door when he remembered.

11. By the standards of, usually with the implication of those standards being lower than one might otherwise expect.

- Fair for its day.

- She's spry for an old lady.

12. Despite, in spite of.

13. Used to indicate the subject of a to-infinitive.

- For that to happen now is incredibly unlikely. (=It is incredibly unlikely that that will happen now.)All I want is for you to be happy. (=All I want is that you be happy.)

14. (chiefly US) Out of; used to indicate a fraction, a ratio

- In term of base hits, Jones was three for four on the day

15. (cricket) used as part of a score to indicate the number of wickets that have fallen

- At close of play, England were 305 for 3.

16. Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being.

17. Used to construe various verbs. See the entry for the phrasal verb.

18. (obsolete) Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done.