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.
Nostalgia, after all, often signals a yearning for connection, to people, to places, and to a specific moment in time. Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 Busch wouldn’t race forever, after all. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026 There are, after all, more than 100 places to eat and drink. Kate Williams, AJC.com, 22 May 2026 The Nationals had, after all, flipped their ace and closer for prospects. Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 21 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 25 May. 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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