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at the end of the day

American  
[at thee end uhv thuh dey] / ˌæt ði ˈɛnd əv ðə ˈdeɪ /

idiom

  1. after everything is considered or accounted for; ultimately.

    At the end of the day, we went for simpler printers that just do their job as soon as you click “print” on your device.

    “Yes, cost and convenience matter, but at the end of the day, it’s about the welfare of our children,” she said.

Etymology

Origin of at the end of the day

First recorded in 1970–75

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.

"At the end of the day, California is a majority Democrat state," she said.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

At the end of the day beverages are getting more space and more occasions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

At the end of the day, what I want people to see is that we can build a better state.

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2026

"At the end of the day, the consumer is right. They are offering attractive products at very competitive prices, good tech and good build quality."

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

At the end of the day Janina clung by my side.

From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys

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.