after all

adverb

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

And who else could sing over the credits but Susan Boyle, a reminder that sometimes taking chances leads to unlikely victories after all? — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026

Long after all humans have vanished from our planet, some extragalactic visitors might land gently on an empty seashore, throw a bucket into the sea and haul up samples of bacteria. — Aaron Shattuck, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026

There’s also the fact that Buffy and especially Angel still feel, after all this, like secrets. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026

Rare earths, after all, are not renewable—a country’s supply can be exhausted—and Beijing was increasingly recognizing the elements’ role in fueling China’s own industries. — Gloria Xiong, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for after all

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol

Kids Definition

after all

adverb

: in spite of what was indicated or expected

decided to go after all

it rained after all