Britannica Dictionary definition of ALL
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]
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
4
a
:
as much as possible of (something)
—
used to indicate the manner in which something is done
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!
c
—
used to indicate that someone has or seems to have a lot of or too much of some physical feature
—
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
—
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]
2
all
/ˈɑːl/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of ALL
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.
all around
(US)
or chiefly British
all round
1
:
in every way
:
from every point of view
all of
1
:
not more than
—
used to stress that an amount is surprisingly small
2
:
as much as
—
used to stress that an amount is somewhat large
all over
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]
-
People came from all over. [=from many places]
—
see also allover
2
informal
:
very critical of (someone)
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 British, 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
—
see also all that at 1that
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
not all there
informal
—
used to describe a person who is somewhat strange or stupid
3
all
/ˈɑːl/
pronoun
Britannica Dictionary definition of ALL
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]
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 1fair
all told
:
including everything or everyone
—
used to indicate a total
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
British, informal
—
used to emphasize a response
at all
—
used to make a statement or question more forceful
—
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.
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.
in all
:
including everything or everyone
—
used to indicate a total
once and for all
—
see 1once
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.