after all

adverb

1
: in spite of considerations or expectations to the contrary : nevertheless
decided to take the train after all
didn't rain after all
2
: in view of all circumstances
literature which is after all only a special department of readingW. W. Watt

Examples of after all 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.
His teammates and coaches brace for the whistle — after all, by the letter of the NBA rulebook, these are fouls. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025 That gave us the courage to see if the studio fire touched the house, after all. Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025 Tony Ferrer’s arm wasn’t eaten by gators after all. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 10 Jan. 2025 By 2008, the Redeem Team helped further restore America as the world standard for hoops (the women’s team has won every gold since 1996, after all). Zach Harper, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for after all 

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of after all was in 1590

Dictionary Entries Near after all

Cite this Entry

“After all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/after%20all. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

after all

adverb
: in spite of what was indicated or expected
decided to go after all
it rained after all

More from Merriam-Webster on after all

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