after all
Idioms-
Despite everything, nevertheless, as in The plane took off half an hour late but landed on time after all .
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After everything else has been considered, ultimately, as in Mary has final approval of the guest list; after all, it's her wedding . The two usages are pronounced differently, the first giving stress to the word after and the second to the word all . Both date from the early 1700s. Also see when all is said and done .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Maybe CVS has the right prescription after all.
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
Hollywood’s Lexington Park will not be getting a new playground after all, and that’s both good news and bad news.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026
The Raiders will have a sixth head coach for their seventh season in Las Vegas, but after all the turmoil they finally they look like heading in the right direction with some savvy picks.
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026
These utilization challenges are important for you — after all, you don’t want to end up with a shock tax bill and a lingering resentment against your adviser or accountant.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
Finally, after all the furniture was in the truck, they returned to the living room.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
