for all
Idioms-
Also, for all that . In spite of, notwithstanding. For example, For all her protests she still loved the attention , or He's too old for the part but he did a good job for all that . [Early 1300s]
-
. So far as one knows; also, one doesn't really care or know. These phrases are employed like a negative. For example, He can buy ten houses for all I care , meaning one doesn't care at all, or For all I know she's gone to China , meaning one doesn't really know where she is. [Mid-1700s]
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.
It is too bad for all of us that the judge didn’t show such respect.
From Slate • Jul. 1, 2026
Rosie Hicks, vice chair of the charity's board of trustees, said it was a challenging time for all charities and the trust was receiving fewer donations and legacies.
From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026
The decision included foreign-born individuals working in the U.S. and some Anthropic researchers, prompting the company to shut off access for all users.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
"We've been working since 2015 and we pay our taxes honestly. We pay for all the other new requirements. And now they've decided to finish us off for good," she said.
From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026
He had a beard and an eye-patch too, And for all I know, he wore one shoe And ate for his lunch a bowl of goo.
From "Wolfie & Fly" by Cary Fagan
![]()
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.