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