all along

adverb

: all the time
knew the truth all along

Examples of all along 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.
Or maybe the steady, unobtrusive creep of conservatism has been the idea all along. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 19 Oct. 2026 Massey Klein has been a small operation all along, and currently represents just six artists—Chrissy Angliker, Lydia Baker, Bethany Czarnecki, Jude Greibel, and Laura Sallade, along with McQuillen. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 Grace has been leaving an entire loaf’s worth of breadcrumbs all along. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026 The challenge is not racing to construct a synthetic copy but cultivating the capacity to recognize, interface with and leverage what has been present all along. — Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for all along

Word History

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of all along was in 1619

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“All along.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all%20along. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

all along

adverb
: all the time
knew the truth all along
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster