the be-all and end-all
noun phrase
: the most important part of something or the reason for something
He acts as if making money is the be-all and end-all of human existence.
Examples of the be-all and end-all in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But another recent development in the awards space is that a late fall release is no longer the be-all and end-all for a Best Picture win.
—
Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
Beware of tech bros who use it as the be-all and end-all.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2026
Many people, quite understandably, take a single experiment or study as the be-all and end-all of knowledge because that’s how research often is presented by the press or on social media.
—Jeffrey A. Lee, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Other ways to reduce dementia risk Remember, gardening isn’t the be-all and end-all for dementia prevention.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Devising scenes together can be the be-all and end-all for a lot of improv comedy artists.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
Their editors were heavily involved in politics, and that would not change, though politics was not the be-all and end-all concern of their newspapers.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
Football, Matheson had come to realise, isn’t the be-all and end-all.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Mindfulness takes that preliminary and glorifies it into the be-all and end-all.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
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Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
Beware of tech bros who use it as the be-all and end-all.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2026
Many people, quite understandably, take a single experiment or study as the be-all and end-all of knowledge because that’s how research often is presented by the press or on social media.
—Jeffrey A. Lee, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Other ways to reduce dementia risk Remember, gardening isn’t the be-all and end-all for dementia prevention.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Devising scenes together can be the be-all and end-all for a lot of improv comedy artists.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
Their editors were heavily involved in politics, and that would not change, though politics was not the be-all and end-all concern of their newspapers.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
Football, Matheson had come to realise, isn’t the be-all and end-all.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Mindfulness takes that preliminary and glorifies it into the be-all and end-all.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“The be-all and end-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20be-all%20and%20end-all. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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