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.
Read next: Here’s the real cost of economy airfare after all the fees.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026
It turned out to be a great call after all.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026
The easiest option isn’t the best one, after all.
From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026
They were the cause, after all, of the sector’s weak performance at the start of the year.
From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026
She was there, after all, two years ago, when the thing happened to Jessica.
From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott
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.
