What does all mean?
All is one of the most fundamental words in English, expressing totality in its many forms: the whole of a quantity, every member of a group, or complete extent. Used most often as a determiner, it appears in phrases such as 'all the guests arrived' or 'all hope was lost', while as a pronoun it can stand alone, as in 'all is well'. It also serves as an adverb meaning entirely ('wet all through') and, less commonly, as a noun describing one's utmost effort, as when an athlete gives their all. The word carries strong connotations of completeness and finality, which makes it central to expressions like 'all in all' and 'once and for all'. Descended from Old English 'eall', it is among the language's oldest surviving words and has given rise to familiar compounds such as 'also', 'always', and 'although'. Its simplicity belies its importance: few words are used across so many contexts, from everyday conversation to formal writing.
The whole of a given number, quantity, or extent; every member of a group without exception.
"All the windows were left open during the storm."
Usually placed before a noun or pronoun; 'all of' is often preferred in formal contexts.
Everything or everyone; the entire amount or number considered as a single entity.
"All is calm now that the dispute has been settled."
Entirely or completely; to the fullest degree or extent.
"They walked until they were soaked all through."
One's whole strength, energy, or interest; one's utmost effort.
"She gave her all in the championship match."
Most often heard in sporting or emotionally charged contexts, typically in phrases like 'give one's all'.
'All' is one of the oldest words in English — it traces back over a thousand years to Old English 'eall', and it quietly built some of our most common compound words, including 'also', 'always', and 'although'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of all
All descends from the Old English 'eall', meaning 'every, entire, whole', which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic root '*ala-'. Cognates appear across the Germanic languages, including German 'alle' and Old Norse 'allr'. The word's ancient core proved remarkably productive: Middle English writers combined it with other elements to form compounds such as 'also' (from 'eallswā'), 'always', 'although', and 'altogether', many of which remain everyday words today.
How all is actually used
In modern standard usage, 'all' functions chiefly as a determiner rather than a true adjective, so it typically appears before nouns or pronouns ('all children', 'all of them') rather than after them. In formal writing, 'all of' is often preferred before a pronoun or a noun with a definite article ('all of the students'). The noun sense ('her all', 'his all') is common in sports and emotional contexts but rare elsewhere.
Easily confused with all
An awl is a small pointed tool used for piercing holes, whereas 'all' refers to the whole quantity or every member of a group.