|
all [ awl ] CORE MEANING: a grammatical word used to indicate that the whole of a particular thing, amount, group, or area is involved or affected
  (adj) all men and all women
(pron) All of the computers are down.
(pron) All that glitters is not gold. |
| Definition: |
| |
1. adjective whole of: used to indicate that the whole of an amount, area, quantity, or thing is involved or affected
All Europe was in the grip of freezing temperatures.
|
2. adjective every: every one of
all employees over 30
|
3. adjective any: any whatever
(
used after a negative word such as "refuse" or "deny"
)
Deny all connection with the plot.
|
4. adjective most: the greatest possible
with all speed
|
5. adjective characterized by: dominated in mood or character by something
(
informal
)
He was all smiles.
|
6. adjective regional used up: finished or used up, especially of food or drink
|
7. adverb very: very, completely, or totally
(
informal
)
I got all confused.
|
8. adverb apiece: to or for each one
The score was thirty all.
|
9. pron every one or whole: the whole number or amount
(
takes a plural verb
)
All of us are going to the game.
|
10. pron everyone or everything: the whole quantity or group
All that glitters is not gold.
|
11. noun somebody's best effort: the greatest amount of somebody's ability or effort
He gave his all in the performance.
|
| [ Old English eall< Germanic] |
|
all along from the beginning, or for the whole time that something else was taking place
I knew all along he was lying.
|
all but almost
I was all but asleep when the phone rang.
|
all for strongly in favor of something (informal)
I'm all for it!
|
all how
1. completely
2. no matter how
|
all now
1. right away
2.
Same as still2
3. by this time
|
(all) in all when everything has been taken into account
All in all, it was a good party.
|
all of only, or no more than (informal)
It took us all of three hours to get here.
|
all or nothing used to indicate that only complete success or obtaining everything counts, and that anything less than that has no value
|
all that
1. very, particularly, or to that extent (informal)usually used in negative statements or questions
I'm not all that worried about it.
2. U.S. extraordinarily good or admirable (slang)
She is definitely all that!
|
all the same
1. none the less
It rained a bit but the children enjoyed their day out all the same.
2. used to indicate that it is unimportant to the speaker which of two or more things is done or chosen
I'd rather go by train, if it's all the same to you.
|
all there fully alert, aware of what is going on, and able to deal with it (informal)
|
all very well used to indicate that there is some kind of objection or drawback, despite the fact that somebody else is apparently satisfied with the situation
That's all very well, but it's still my responsibility.
|
be all over somebody to be extremely or excessively friendly or effusive toward somebody (informal)
|
be all over something to have something, especially a project or a problem, completely under control (informal)
|
in all in total
That makes 52 votes in all for our candidate.
|
|
|
|
