all

allpronoun

1. the whole amountthe whole of a thing, with nothing left out

   All stands for a whole amount already clear from context, without naming it again.

   • I don't need it all; half is enough.
   • She gave all she had to help them.
   • Is that all for today?
   • We ate it all before anyone else arrived.

   Collocations

   phrase that's all, all of it

   Antonyms none

2. every person or thingevery person or thing in a group being talked about

   As a pronoun, all stands alone, comes just after a personal pronoun (we all, I ate it all), or is followed by of and a personal pronoun such as us, them, or it: all of us. Directly before a noun, or before of and a noun, all is a determiner, a separate entry.

   • All of us went to the concert together.
   • All of them agreed with the plan.
   • Not all were happy with the decision.
   • We all agreed to meet again next week.

   Collocations

   phrase all of them, all of us, all of you

   Compare all (all directly before a noun, or before of and a noun: all students, all of the students, compared with the pronoun use before a personal pronoun: all of us)

See also all (all directly before a noun: all students)

alldeterminer

All points to the complete amount or number of something, with nothing left out.

1. whole amount or numberused before a noun to mean the complete amount, number, or group, with no part left out

   All goes directly before a plural or uncountable noun (all children, all water) or before the, a possessive, or a demonstrative and then a noun (all the students, all my money, all those books). All of is also possible before these: all of the students.

   • All children need love and attention.
   • She spent all her money on the trip.
   • All the seats in the theater were full.
   • Not all birds can fly.

   Collocations

   phrase all the time, all sorts of, all kinds of

   Compare most; all

2. whole time or placeused before a noun of time or place to mean the whole of it, from beginning to end or from one side to the other

   This use is common with day, night, week, and way: it rained all day; we walked all the way home.

   • It rained all day, so we stayed inside.
   • Mari studied all night before the exam.
   • The road was blocked all the way to the bridge.
   • We waited all week for the package to arrive.

   Collocations

   phrase all day, all night, all week, all year, all the way

See also all (all standing alone, without a noun: that is all); all (all meaning completely, as in all wet and the phrases at all and all in all)