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 readingW. 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.
Allen was on the other side, after all. Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 The officiating crew decided to throw a flag for intentional grounding after all. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025 This is all meant to be in good fun, after all, and good fun is much easier to come by with good beer. Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 6 Oct. 2025 Weekends are a labor issue, after all; in Finland, the eight-hour workday had been a central demand of a 1917 general strike. Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“After all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/after%20all. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

after all

adverb
: in spite of what was indicated or expected
decided to go after all
it rained after all

More from Merriam-Webster on after all

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