all

Less common meanings

5. 5
   adverb

   So much, before 'the' and a comparing word, as in 'all the better'.

   You can't come? All the better, I lost the tickets.

   We will have to work all the harder.

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Everything you have to give, especially all your effort.

   The singer gave her all on the last night of the tour.

   The team put their all into the final.

   UsageSay give your all: try as hard as you can.

   Similarbest, utmost

7. 7
   determiner

   Nothing but, as in 'he's all talk'.

   He's all talk and no action.

   The dog is all bark.

   UsageUsually comes after be, often in a pair: all talk and no action.

   Note
8. 8
   quoting speechadverb

   Used in casual speech to report what someone said or how they felt.

   I told him I was late, and he was all, 'No big deal.'

   He was all, 'Why didn't you call me?'

   UsagePut all after a form of be, before the words you report: she was all, 'No way!'

   Similarlike

9. 9
   each sideadverb

   Each, in a score, as in 'thirty all'.

   The score was thirty all when the rain came.

   It's two all with ten minutes left.

   UsagePut all after the number: two all means both sides have two.

   Similarapiece, each

10. 10
    in questionspronoundialectalIndiaNorthern IrelandScotlandSouthern US

    Added after 'who', 'what' or 'where' in some dialects, as in 'who all came?'.

    Who all is coming to dinner?

    What all did you buy?

    Note
11. 11
    everything to someonenouncountable or uncountable

    Everything that exists or matters, as a noun.

    My people are my all.

    To the mystic, the all is one.

    Similareverything, world

    Oppositenothing

12. 12
    goneadjectivedialectalPennsylvania

    In Pennsylvania speech, all gone or used up, as in 'the butter is all'.

    Somebody ate the last cookie, and now the cookies are all.

    The milk's all, so I'll go to the store.

    UsagePut all after is, are, was, or were: 'The milk is all.'

    Similargone, finished

    Note
13. 13
    adverbobsolete

    An old poetic use meaning 'even' or 'just', as in 'all as he fed his flock'.

    All as his straying flock he fed.

    1579, Edmund Spenser, The Shepheardes CalenderHere, all means just or even, a filler word added for the rhythm of the poem.

    A damsel lay deploring / All on a rock reclined.

    1715, John Gay, What D’ye Call It?Here, all means just or even, a filler word added for the rhythm of the poem.

    Note
14. 14
    determinerobsolete

    An old use meaning 'any', as in 'without all remedy'.

    Note
15. 15
    conjunctionobsolete

    An old use meaning 'although'.

    And those two froward sisters, their faire loves, / Came with them eke, all they were wondrous loth.

    1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, all means although, so they came even though they did not want to.

    Note