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.

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Etymology

Origin of at the end of the day

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

at the end of the day

I could also put down a substantial good-faith deposit and settle the balance at the end of the day if the total exceeds the deposit.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026

And at the end of the day, it's not only Formula 1 for me.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

“Whatever the cash register says at the end of the day is going to Dolly’s passion,” Yearwood said in announcing the tribute.

From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026

“I think at the end of the day, there’s always a leap of faith,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

“And at the end of the day, when this program is over, she’s not going to be anyone’s mentee, but she’s still gonna be my daughter.”

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson

Related Words

• finally
• in the course of time
• one day
• someday
• sooner or later
• ultimately