all
Used to mean every person or thing, or the whole of something.
Refers to the whole quantity or extent of something, or every member of a group without exception.
Means everyone or everything in a group.
Refers to the entire number of people or things previously mentioned or easily identified.
Completely or totally.
Completely; entirely; used to emphasize the degree of something.
- Base: all
- Plural: alls
all along
1from the start until now
For the whole time from the beginning until now.
- I knew it was a mistake all along.
- She had been planning it all along.
all in all
1considering everything together
Used to say that you are considering everything before giving an opinion.
- All in all, it was a good trip.
- All in all, I think we did well.
for all I know
1expressing uncertainty about something
Used to say you are not sure about something.
- He might be lying, for all I know.
- For all I know, she could be at home.
for all I know
2admitting uncertainty about something
You say this when you do not know if something is true or not.
- For all I know, he could be lying.
- She might have already left, for all I know.
once and for all
1finally and completely ending something
To do something one final time so it is finished forever.
- Let’s settle this once and for all.
- He quit smoking once and for all.
once and for all
2Finally and completely ending something
To do something so it will never need to be done again.
- Let's settle this argument once and for all.
- He fixed the problem once and for all by replacing the whole system.
all of a sudden
1Very quickly and unexpectedly
Happening very fast and with no warning.
- All of a sudden, the dog started barking loudly.
- All of a sudden, the lights went out.
- We were talking when, all of a sudden, the lights went out.
- We were walking when, all of a sudden, it started to rain.
all of a sudden
2suddenly and unexpectedly
Happening quickly without warning.
- All of a sudden, it started to rain.
- All of a sudden, the lights went out.