1 all
/ˈɑːl/
adjective
1 all
/ˈɑːl/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of ALL
1
:
the whole, entire, total amount, quantity, or extent of
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He stayed awake all night. [=the whole/entire night]
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She worked hard all day. [=throughout the entire day]
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I've been waiting all week to see her.
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He had to walk all the way home.
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She works all year round.
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He'll need all the help he can get.
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Someone took all the candy.
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It was one of the greatest victories of all time. [=one of the greatest victories ever]
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I think about her all the time. [=I think about her constantly]
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2
a
:
every member or part of
— used with a plural noun or pronoun to mean that a statement is true of every person or thing in a group
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All my friends were there.
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a film suitable for all ages
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They all came late.
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We all need to work faster.
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I read all the magazines. = I read them all.
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All these eggs are ready.
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“…all men are created equal…”
U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776)
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She thinks all teenagers are alike. = She thinks teenagers are all alike.
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Not all teenagers are alike. = Teenagers are not all alike.
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They serve breakfast at all hours. [=at any hour, at any time of day]
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They were up till/until all hours. [=they were up very late]
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She has to deal with all kinds/sorts/types of people. [=with people of every kind/sort/type]
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b
:
the whole number or sum of
— used with a plural noun or pronoun to mean that a statement is true of a group of people or things considered together
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It was great to see him again after all these years.
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3
:
any whatever
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His guilt is beyond all doubt. [=he is certainly guilty]
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She denied all [=any] responsibility for the accident.
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4
a
:
as much as possible of (something)
— used to indicate the manner in which something is done
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He spoke in all seriousness/innocence. [=he spoke in a completely serious/innocent way]
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b
:
having or showing only (some quality, feature, etc.)
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The students became all attention [=became very attentive] when the teacher came in.
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He was all smiles with the boss. [=he was smiling constantly when he was with the boss]
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This drink is too strong: it's all alcohol!
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c
— used to indicate that someone has or seems to have a lot of or too much of some physical feature
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an actress who is all legs [=an actress who has very long legs]
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— see also all ears at 1ear, all eyes at 1eye, all mouth at 1mouth, all thumbs at 1thumb
5
US, chiefly Southern, informal
— used in speech to refer to a group of people or things
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Who all is coming? [=who is coming?]
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What all do we need to do? [=what are the things that we need to do?]
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— see also what all, you-all
for all
:
in spite of (something)
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For all his confident talk, he is actually very unsure of himself.
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She still loves him, for all his faults.
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of all (the)
informal
— used in phrases to express surprise, disapproval, anger, etc.
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Who should I meet in New York but Max of all people! = Of all the people in New York, who should I run into but Max! [=I was very surprised to meet Max in New York]
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Why did my car break down now of all times, when I can least afford it?!
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“He actually called you a fool!” “Of all the nerve!” [=I am shocked and offended that he called me a fool]
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2 all
/ˈɑːl/
adverb
2 all
/ˈɑːl/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of ALL
1
:
entirely or completely
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She sat all alone.
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She has traveled all around the world.
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This money will be all yours when I die.
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He got all wet.
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She had buttons all down the side of her dress.
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I forgot all about paying the bill.
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The noise continued all through the night. [=all night long, throughout the night]
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— often used to make a statement more forceful
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I'm all in favor of trying again.
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His criticisms were all out of proportion.
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These problems have been occurring all too often. [=much too often]
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2
:
for each side or player
— used to indicate a tie score
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The score is 2 all. [=apiece]
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The game ended in a 5-all draw.
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We're tied at 3-all after seven innings.
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3
informal
:
1very
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The kids got all excited on Christmas.
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all along
— see 2along
all around
(US)
or chiefly British
all round
1
:
in every way
:
from every point of view
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It was a good deal all around: we made money and nobody lost out.
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2
:
for everyone
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Let's have drinks all around, bartender.
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— see also all-around
all of
1
:
not more than
— used to stress that an amount is surprisingly small
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She learned to fly a plane when she was all of 16 years old.
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The team scored all of six points the entire game.
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2
:
as much as
— used to stress that an amount is somewhat large
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The prize is now worth all of 10 million dollars.
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all over
1
a
:
over an entire area
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We looked all over [=everywhere] for you.
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b
:
in every part of (something)
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The flower can be found all over the island in spring and early summer.
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He's lived all over Texas.
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In his office there are books piled all over the place. [=everywhere]
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People came from all over. [=from many places]
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— see also allover
2
informal
:
very critical of (someone)
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She was all over me for being late.
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3
informal
:
crowding around, pushing against, or touching (someone) in a very eager or aggressive way
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The band's fans were all over them.
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Look at that young couple. They're all over each other! [=they are kissing, touching, etc., very passionately]
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She tried to score, but the other team's defense was all over her.
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4
chiefly British, informal
:
in every way
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She's her mother all over. [=she's just like her mother]
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Late again, is she? That's her all over. [=that's very typical of her]
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all that
:
to a high degree
— usually used in negative statements
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I wasn't all that [=very] interested in the story.
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The movie wasn't all that [=so] bad.
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— see also all that at 1that
all the
— used to give added force to a word like “more” or “better”
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With the economy in such bad shape, it's all the more important [=it's even more important] that we correct these problems quickly.
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If we arrive early, all the better. [=it will be even better if we arrive early]
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all told
:
with everything considered or included
:
in all
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All told, it took us three full days to get there.
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There were seven of us all told.
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go all out
— see 1go
not all there
informal
— used to describe a person who is somewhat strange or stupid
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Her aunt is very sweet but not all there (mentally).
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3 all
/ˈɑːl/
pronoun
3 all
/ˈɑːl/
pronoun
Britannica Dictionary definition of ALL
1
:
the entire number, quantity, or amount
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All [=everything] that I have is yours.
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All [=everything] will be explained soon.
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She told us all about what happened.
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Her other books were good, but this one is the best of all.
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All are welcome! [=everyone is welcome]
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We all enjoyed the movie. = All of us enjoyed the movie.
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Many people were invited and all came.
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His stories may be entertaining, but I don't think all (of them) are true.
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Thanks to all who helped out.
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All of this money will be yours when I die.
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Not all of our students go on to college.
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It was all (that) I could do to keep from laughing! [=I had a hard time trying not to laugh]
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“Is there anything else to be done?” “No, that's all.”
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He gave equal attention to one and all. [=to everyone]
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Come one, come all. [=everyone is invited to come]
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Usage see: altogether
2
:
the only thing
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That's all I can do to help.
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All I know is that the game was canceled. I don't know why.
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above all
— see 2above
after all
— see 2after
All aboard!
— see 1aboard
all in all
informal
:
in a general way
:
when everything is thought of or considered
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All in all [=in general, generally, for the most part], I like the way things have gone.
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We did lose some money, but we got most of it back. So all in all things might have been a lot worse.
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all's fair in love and war
— see 1fair
all told
:
including everything or everyone
— used to indicate a total
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The cost of the repairs came to about $300 all told. [=in all] [=the total cost of the repairs was about $300]
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and all
1
:
and everything else
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What with the noise outside, the fire and all, we got hardly any sleep.
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He endured everything, insults and all, without getting angry.
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2
British, informal
— used to emphasize a response
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“It's really hot out!” “It is and all!” [=it certainly is]
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at all
— used to make a statement or question more forceful
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He will go anywhere at all to get a job.
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Did you find out anything at all?
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— used especially in negative statements
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“Did she say anything?” “No, nothing at all.”
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I don't mind cooking at all.
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It's not at all what you think it is. It's something else entirely.
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I wasn't tired at all. = I wasn't at all tired. [=I wasn't even slightly tired]
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This chair is not at all comfortable.
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I didn't like it at all.
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That is not at all likely.
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◊ The phrase not at all is sometimes used as a polite response when someone thanks you. “Thank you for all your trouble.” “Not at all.” “That was very kind of you.” “Not at all. It was the least I could do.” [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
for all
— see 1for
for all I know
— see 1know
for all (someone) cares
— see 2care
give your all
:
to do or give as much as you can to achieve something, to support a cause, etc.
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He gave his all for the cause. = He gave his all to help the cause.
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You'll never succeed in this business unless you give (it) your all.
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in all
:
including everything or everyone
— used to indicate a total
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There were about a thousand people at the concert in all. [=all told]
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once and for all
— see 1once
that is all
— see 1that
when all is said and done
:
after considering or doing everything
— used for a final general statement or judgment
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It won't be easy, but when all is said and done, we'll be glad we did it.
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The candidates claim to have different views but, when all is said and done, they're very much alike.
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