all along

Idioms

From the start, throughout, from end to end, as in I've known he was innocent all along. [c. 1600] Also see all along the line.

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.

“Our goal all along has been to support the renovation of Oregon’s Arena so it can remain an economic and entertainment hub for the region.”

From Salon • Mar. 30, 2026

They began to wonder if this had been the plan all along, not to reestablish his bookstore, but to restage his fight with the man.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

But inside UCLA’s locker room, Jaquez has been that player all along.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

In other words: Mr. Colby was right all along.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

It was the very thing he’d plotted to accomplish, what he’d thought he’d wanted all along.

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