after all

adverb

Synonyms of after allnext
1
: in spite of considerations or expectations to the contrary : nevertheless
decided to take the train after all
didn't rain after all
2
: in view of all circumstances
… literature which is after all only a special department of reading.W. W. Watt

Examples of after all in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sports, after all, can be a vehicle for shaping our values and expressing our desires. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026 Orion's four astronauts are flying to the moon, after all. Tariq Malik, Space.com, 5 Apr. 2026 There’s an entire show, The Crown, that proves how much people care, after all. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Apr. 2026 For now, the study offers a compelling possibility that black holes may not be the end of information after all. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for after all

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of after all was in 1590

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Cite this Entry

“After all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/after%20all. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

after all

adverb
: in spite of what was indicated or expected
decided to go after all
it rained after all

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