All

/ɔːl/ · determiner

Meaning

Every individual or anything of the given class, with no exceptions (the noun or noun phrase denoting the class must be plural or uncountable)..

Definitions by Sense

1. Every individual or anything of the given class, with no exceptions (the noun or noun phrase denoting the class must be plural or uncountable).
2. Throughout the whole of (a stated period of time; generally used with units of a day or longer).
3. Only; alone; nothing but.
4. (obsolete) Any.
5. Everything.
6. Everyone.
7. The only thing(s).
8. (chiefly Southern US, South Midland US, Midland US, Scotland, Northern Ireland, India) Used after who, what, where, how and similar words, either without changing their meaning, or indicating that one expects that they cover more than one element, e.g. that "Who all attended?" is more than one person. (Some dialects only allow this to follow some words and not others.)

Example Sentences

All contestants must register for the footrace: we've arranged numbers for them all.

List all books of which you were the sole or co-author.

All flesh is originally grass.

All (the) three of my nephews adore classical music.

Beautie alone is a ſoveraigne remedy againſt feare,griefe,and all melancholy fits; a charm,as Peter de la Seine and many other writers affirme,a banquet it ſelfe;he gives inſtance in diſcontented Menelaus that was ſo often freed by Helenas faire face: and ʰTully, 3 Tusc. cites Epicurus as a chiefe patron of this Tenent.

In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass. In this way all respectable burgesses, down to fifty years ago, spent their evenings.

Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path[…]. It twisted and turned,[…]and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn. And, back of the lawn, was a big, old-fashioned house, with piazzas stretching in front of it, and all blazing with lights.

Now, Nielsen is sending all hotel employees through EI training to help them become more open and confident, understand their own limitations and fears, and to boost their self-worth and comfort in dealing with other people.

Synonyms for all

Antonyms for all

Related Words

Word Forms

• a'
• al
• alls

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions