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.
Television started out as a live medium, after all — virtually all programs were live in the early, golden age of the small screen before the use of film, and then videotape, allowed for more flexibility. Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 June 2026 So maybe not so much progress, after all. Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026 The icy comet body itself, surrounded by this dust, may have been fairly Earth-like after all. Quanta Magazine, 12 June 2026 Clint Eastwood may still be doing show business after all. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 12 June 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 15 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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