after all
Idioms-
Despite everything, nevertheless, as in The plane took off half an hour late but landed on time after all .
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After everything else has been considered, ultimately, as in Mary has final approval of the guest list; after all, it's her wedding . The two usages are pronounced differently, the first giving stress to the word after and the second to the word all . Both date from the early 1700s. Also see when all is said and done .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wynne, after all, came with a fairly average set of attributes on Fifa.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
Depression and fatigue are, after all, mostly subjective experiences.
From Slate • May 3, 2026
Maybe CVS has the right prescription after all.
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
But as he considers his legacy and comedic craft, Cole said he is proud he is still himself after all of this time in the industry.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
This, after all, was the kind of thing regular parents were supposed to help with.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
