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.
That’s what the American justice system is for, after all.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
The biggest jump in recent years happened just after lockdown, beginning in May 2021, one month after all adults became eligible for vaccines nationwide.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026
"This is obviously not how we intended for you to see the game after all this time," Rockstar said in a statement posted on social media.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
"It's not what we expected when we were going to Reading, especially after all of the hot weather. Preparing for it was all a bit last minute."
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
If Mom really is a not-so-good person, could she possibly be guilty of embezzlement after all?
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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.
