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.
Algorithms, after all, give these priests an incentive to be flashy and address controversies.
From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026
This is, after all, the largest energy supply shock ever.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
He, after all, has rebuilt the USC program over his four seasons as head coach.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
It's a long flight from Glasgow to Miami, after all.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
Clare realized it had been the answer to the question of where Gingersnipes belonged after all.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
