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.
So either Moreno has loosened his grip on the reins, or this was possible all along. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 The leader whose humility doesn’t hold up in a boardroom crisis, has often been taking credit in smaller rooms all along. — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 People still use science to prove that religion was right all along. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Holy Land’s brightly illuminated cross atop Pine Hill in Waterbury has been a landmark to I-84 travelers all along. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 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

Rhymes for all along

See All Rhymes for all along

Browse Nearby Words

Allais
all along
allamanda
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“All along.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all%20along. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

all along

adverb
: all the time
knew the truth all along

More from Merriam-Webster on all along

Nglish: Translation of all along for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of oxymoron

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All