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

Nonetheless, none of the major Hollywood studios are likely to be buyers — after all, two of them are currently merging. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

The most embarrassing thing for the USA is that Garcia clearly was out to make an example of the Americans after all the pregame controversy. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

There are, after all, far more planets in the Universe than grains of sand on Earth. — Chris Young july 07, New Atlas, 7 July 2026

Then the Senate Armed Services chair reversed himself, calling Wilson on Thursday to say that Charleston could not host the gathering after all. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 7 July 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