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

Well, as strong as any goalie’s case can reasonably be — goalies are still very volatile after all. — Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 22 July 2026

What to do nearby Angkor Wat sits a mere 18 minutes by car from the hotel, and after all, that’s the main reason anyone goes to Siem Reap. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 July 2026

The second half of the record is dominated by awkward experiments; Tricky is still going to Tricky, after all. — Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026

At public institutions, the average amount that a student pays now after all the discounts and everything is subtracted is only about $2,300 according to the college board. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 20 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