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.
Deborah decides to pursue treatment after all, if only to buy enough time to work a little more. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 May 2026 And New York, after all, did make a coaching change after advancing to last year’s East finals, firing Tom Thibodeau and replacing him with Mike Brown. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026 The European romp does, after all, happen for a reason that is impossible to accept—for viewers as well as for Ava. Judy Berman, Time, 29 May 2026 Tom Hardy might be heading back to MobLand after all. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 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 2 Jun. 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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