after all
2 synonyms and 0 antonyms for after all, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adverb — Used to say that something turned out to be true or to happen in spite of what was expected or arranged.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use after all
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral. Very common in both speech and writing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between after all and finally?
Finally means at last, at the end of a sequence of events. After all means contrary to what was expected, or introduces a supporting reason. 'He finally arrived' says he was late; 'he arrived after all' says people thought he would not come.
Where does after all go in a sentence?
Both meanings can sit at the start or the end. The 'contrary to expectation' sense strongly prefers the end of the clause — we went after all. The 'here's the reason' sense reads more naturally at the start, set off with a comma.
Is after all the same as at the end of the day?
They overlap in the reason-giving sense, but at the end of the day is more informal and means 'what really matters is'. After all points to a fact both speakers already know.