First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1all
adjective \ˈȯl\
: the whole, entire, total amount, quantity, or extent of
: every member or part of
: the whole number or sum of
Full Definition of ALL
1
a : the whole amount, quantity, or extent of <needed all the courage they had> <sat up all night> b : as much as possible <spoke in all seriousness>
2
: every member or individual component of <all men will go> <all five children were present>
3
: the whole number or sum of <all the angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles>
4
: every <all manner of hardship>
5
: any whatever <beyond all doubt>
6
: nothing but : only: a : completely taken up with, given to, or absorbed by <became all attention> b : having or seeming to have (some physical feature) in conspicuous excess or prominence <all legs> c : paying full attention with <all ears>
7
dial : used up : entirely consumed —used especially of food and drink
8
: being more than one person or thing <who all is coming>
— all the
: as much of … as : as much of a … as <all the home I ever had>
See all defined for English-language learners
See all defined for kids
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Origin of ALL
Middle English all, al, from Old English eall; akin to Old High German all all
Related to ALL
Synonym Discussion of ALL
whole, entire, total, all mean including everything or everyone without exception. whole implies that nothing has been omitted, ignored, abated, or taken away <read the whole book>. entire may suggest a state of completeness or perfection to which nothing can be added <the entire population was wiped out>. total implies that everything has been counted, weighed, measured, or considered <the total number of people present>. all may equal whole, entire, or total <all proceeds go to charity>.
2all
adverb
: entirely or completely
: for each side or player
Full Definition of ALL
1
2
obsolete : only, exclusively
3
archaic : just
4
: so much <all the better for it>
5
: for each side : apiece <the score is two all>
See all defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ALL
before 12th century
3all
pronoun, singular or plural in construction
Definition of ALL
1
a : the whole number, quantity, or amount : totality <all that I have> <all of us> <all of the books> b —used in such phrases as for all I know, for all I care, and for all the good it does to indicate a lack of knowledge, interest, or effectiveness
2
: everybody, everything <gave equal attention to all> <that is all>
— all in all
: on the whole : generally <all in all, things might have been worse>
— and all
: and everything else especially of a kind suggested by a previous context <cards to fill out with … numbers and all — Sally Quinn>
First Known Use of ALL
before 12th century
4all
noun
Definition of ALL
: the whole of one's possessions, resources, or energy <gave his all for the cause>
First Known Use of ALL
1593
ALL[1] Defined for Kids
1all
adjective \ˈȯl\
Definition of ALL for Kids
1
: every one of <All students can go.>
2
: the whole of <He sat up all night.>
3
: the whole number of <after all these years>
4
: any whatever <beyond all doubt>
5
: the greatest possible <Her story was told in all seriousness.>
2all
adverb
Definition of ALL for Kids
1
: completely <He sat all alone.> <I'm all finished.>
2
: so much <He is all the better for being put in another class.>
3
: 2very 1 <The child was all excited.>
4
: for each side <The score is two all.>
3all
pronoun
Definition of ALL for Kids
1
: the whole number or amount <I ate all of the candy.>
2
: everything <All is lost.>
3
: the only thing <All I know is I'm done.>
Learn More About ALL
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