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

Instead, why not lean into an entirely different new outlook on life, one that’s far less burdensome and a whole lot more fun—after all, too much of a good thing is never enough. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2026

This is the postseason after all; passing is a last resort. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026

Much ado has been made about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor relocating from his 30-room mansion Royal Lodge to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk—but according to a new report, that might not necessarily happen after all. —Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026

If the government taking on responsibility for broader childcare lowered costs, after all, former mayor Bill de Blasio’s universal pre-K program would have cut overall costs starting in 2014. —Nicole Gelinas, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 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
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol

Kids Definition

after all

adverb

: in spite of what was indicated or expected

decided to go after all

it rained after all