all: Meaning and Definition of

all

Pronunciation: (ôl), [key]
— adj.
  1. the whole of (used in referring to quantity, extent, or duration): all the cake; all the way; all year.
  2. the whole number of (used in referring to individuals or particulars, taken collectively): all students.
  3. the greatest possible (used in referring to quality or degree): with all due respect; with all speed.
  4. every: all kinds; all sorts.
  5. any; any whatever: beyond all doubt.
  6. nothing but; only: The coat is all wool.
  7. dominated by or as if by the conspicuous possession or use of a particular feature: The colt was all legs. They were all ears, listening attentively to everything she said.
  8. all gone; consumed; finished: The pie is all.
—pron.
  1. the whole quantity or amount: He ate all of the peanuts. All are gone.
  2. the whole number; every one: all of us.
  3. everything: Is that all you want to say? All is lost.
—n.
  1. one's whole interest, energy, or property: to give one's all; to lose one's all.
  2. (often cap.) the entire universe.
  3. before everything else; chiefly: Above all, the little girl wanted a piano.
  4. in spite of the circumstances; notwithstanding: He came in time after all.
  5. All in all, her health is greatly improved.
    1. everything considered; in general:All in all, her health is greatly improved.
    2. altogether:There were twelve absentees all in all.
    3. everything; everything regarded as important:Painting became his all in all.
  6. (of the copy for typesetting a particular article, book, issue, etc.) in the possession of the compositor.
  7. together with every other associated or connected attribute, object, or circumstance: What with the snow and all, we may be a little late.
  8. I wasn't surprised at all.
    1. in the slightest degree:I wasn't surprised at all.
    2. for any reason:Why bother at all?
    3. in any way:no offense at all.
  9. in spite of; notwithstanding: For all that, it was a good year.
  10. all included; all together: a hundred guests in all.
  11. for the last time; finally: The case was settled once and for all when the appeal was denied.
—adv.
  1. wholly; entirely; completely: all alone.
  2. only; exclusively: He spent his income all on pleasure.
  3. each; apiece: The score was one all.
  4. even; just.
  5. See(def. 14).
  6. almost; very nearly: These batteries are all but dead.
  7. very tired; exhausted: We were all in at the end of the day.
  8. too close to the wind.
  9. with all available means or effort: We went all out to win the war.
    1. finished; done; ended.
    2. everywhere; in every part.
    3. in every respect; typically.
  10. The ship ran aground all standing.
    1. in such a way and so suddenly that sails or engines are still set to propel a vessel forward:The ship ran aground all standing.
    2. fully clothed:The crew turned in all standing.
    3. fully equipped, as a vessel.
  11. remarkably; entirely; decidedly (used in negative constructions): It's not all that different from your other house.
  12. more advantageous; so much the better: If the sun shines it will be all the better for our trip.
  13. mentally competent; not insane or feeble-minded: Some of his farfetched ideas made us suspect that he wasn't all there.
  14. See(def. 8).
  15. See(def. 2).
  16. It's all up with George
    1. Print.,Journ.(of copy) completely set in type.
    2. Informal.with no vestige of hope remaining:It's all up with George—they've caught him.

all-

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. var. ofbefore a vowel: allonym.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
  • all (Thesaurus)