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.
In the American context, after all, Oscar season is just about the last place for broad, sustained attention to challenging studio fare, bold independents, international features and documentaries.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
So this is my take: Say “yes” to your mother’s request, but don’t make your blessing — it is only a blessing, not permission, after all — contingent on you getting the same amount.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Maybe Elizabeth Holmes can still heal the world, after all.
From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026
That’s what the American justice system is for, after all.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
The clothes he was wearing were not brand-new, after all, and he loved them.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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.
