Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

end-all

American  
[end-awl] / ˈɛndˌɔl /

noun

  1. the ultimate purpose, object, or conclusion.

    Money is the be-all and end-all of his existence.

  2. something that brings things to such an end or conclusion.


end-all British  

noun

  1. short for be-all and end-all

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of end-all

First recorded in 1595–1605

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.

But California would not prove to be the be-all and end-all for the rapper, who chose to lay down more permanent roots in Utah, just outside of Salt Lake City.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

It's not the be-all and end-all, but it would be another marker the players can look back on.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

He told Laverne that while he still works "very, very hard" it is no longer the "be-all and end-all of everything".

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2025

“This is not the end-all, be-all; you still need that enforcement side, the education and the engineering,” said Jennifer Seeto, captain of the sheriff’s Malibu/Lost Hills station.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2024

Peck’s access to an end-all weapon makes him valuable.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera