Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

after all

adverb

Definition of after all

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

 But that's a minor point compared to their placement, which is far enough outside of where your brain expects to look to get that information that even after all day in the e-tron none of us were comfortable with the idea. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "We’ve driven Audi’s first proper electric car, the 2019 e-tron SUV," 7 Dec. 2018 Some think that Kylie may even be looking at Jordyn in a whole new light after all this alleged news went public... — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "These Crazy Tristan Thompson/Jordyn Woods Cheating Scandal Memes Are Exploding on Twitter," 22 Feb. 2019 Wallis says, which explains the lushness after all the ice and snow. — Klara Glowczewska, Town & Country, "We Should All Just Move to New Zealand," 17 Jan. 2019 Looking for a palate cleanser after all those wholesome Christmas movies saturating every TV channel? — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina," 18 Dec. 2018 Luann’s happy to have something lighthearted in her life after all the drama of the past year. — Natalie Stone, PEOPLE.com, "Luann de Lesseps Is Dating Her Agent: 'Their Chemistry Was Instant,' Source Says," 11 July 2018 Or perhaps spin it back out and list it in an IPO after all? — Theodore Schleifer, Recode, "SoftBank is betting the Vision Fund on WeWork," 10 Oct. 2018 This makes sense—after all, the car is named after the Stelvio Pass. — Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, "1,160 miles in 11 days: A grand tour with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio," 15 Aug. 2018 Many of the divers and residents of the nearby northern Thai town of Mae Sai saw the last-minute flood as a sign that divine protection had ceased only after all were safe. — Hannah Beech, Richard C. Paddock And Muktita Suhartono, New York Times, "‘Still Can’t Believe It Worked’: The Story of the Thailand Cave Rescue," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'after all.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of after all

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about after all

Share after all

Statistics for after all

Last Updated

14 Mar 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for after all

The first known use of after all was in 1590

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on after all

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with after all

Nglish: Translation of after all for Spanish Speakers

Comments on after all

What made you want to look up after all? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

bower

Listen to the pronounciation of bower

a shady place in a garden or forest

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Original Meanings Quiz

  • rembrandt-painting-a-young-scholar-and-his-tutor
  • Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games