after all

1. Despite everything, nevertheless, as in The plane took off half an hour late but landed on time after all .

2. 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

Britt said she’d been “so afraid” to tell her story — after all, who would believe her?

From Los Angeles Times

These changes could partly explain why, late last month, Poulain returned from his own trip to the region with some disappointing news: Southern Galicia would not become the next blue zone after all.

From Science Magazine

Policymakers should invest in vision and creative research, because "after all, these plans will amount to billions of euros when implemented!"

From Science Daily

Still, after all the treatments he’s tried, there’s one change that Tameka is hoping her son can make.

From Los Angeles Times

The big event, after all, was less than 24 hours away.

From Los Angeles Times