ALL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does all mean? 

• ALL (adjective)
  The adjective ALL has 2 senses:

1. (quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

2. completely given to or absorbed by

  Familiarity information: ALL used as an adjective is rare.

• ALL (adverb)
  The adverb ALL has 1 sense:

1. to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent ('whole' is often used informally for 'wholly')

  Familiarity information: ALL used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ALL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

Context example:

all parties are welcome

Similar:

each ((used of count nouns) every one considered individually)

every ((used of count nouns) each and all of the members of a group considered singly and without exception)

every last ((used as intensive) every)

every (each and all of a series of entities or intervals as specified)

Antonym:

no ((quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns for indicating a complete or almost complete lack or zero quantity of)

some ((quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Completely given to or absorbed by

Context example:

became all attention

Similar:

complete (having every necessary or normal part or component or step)

• ALL (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

To a complete degree or to the full or entire extent ('whole' is often used informally for 'wholly')

Synonyms:

all; altogether; completely; entirely; right; totally; whole; wholly

Context example:

he fell right into the trap

 Context examples 

But of all this no hint had crept into his speech.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I lay all this while, as the reader may believe, in great uneasiness.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Above all, where could he, a stranger to the district, hide a horse, and such a horse as this?

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Hour after hour passed away, and slowly Dorothy got over her fright; but she felt quite lonely, and the wind shrieked so loudly all about her that she nearly became deaf.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Most students of astrology know the eleventh house (where Mars will travel next) covers your friendships, social activity, and all charitable, community, and humanitarian efforts.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

But he knew only that he was hungry, and through his restless sleep he dreamed of feasts and banquets and of food served and spread in all imaginable ways.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

That was all; and on the land I would have been lying on the broad of my back, with a surgeon attending on me, and with strict injunctions to do nothing but rest.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

It grew colder and colder still, and fine, powdery snow began to fall, so that soon we and all around us were covered with a white blanket.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The cliff is so high that to climb it all was an obvious impossibility, and it was equally impossible to make my way along the wet path without leaving some tracks.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.”

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)