at all

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): , ,
• (US) IPA^(key): ,
  • (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): ,

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• Rhymes: -ɔːl

Adverb

at all (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) Indicating degree, quantity or frequency greater than zero: to the slightest degree, in any way, at any time or in any circumstance.

   Synonyms: whatsoever, in the least

   You mustn't speak to her at all.

   Can you see anyone at all?

   Are you at all bothered by the noise?

   Let me know if you are at all concerned.

   Were you angry that he was laughing too hard, or that he was laughing at all?

   I'm glad that she didn't stay long, but sorry that she came at all.

   This is the only one of the issues for which I am at all responsible.

   • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 9:

     Here's neither buſh, nor ſhrub to beare off any weather at all: and another Storme brewing, I heare it ſing ith' winde: yond ſame blacke cloud, yond huge one, lookes like a foule bumbard that would ſhed his licquor: if it ſhould thunder, as it did before, I know not where to hide my head: yond ſame cloud cannot chooſe but fall by paile-fuls.

   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick, Chapter 13: Wheelbarrow:

     He did not seem to think that he at all deserved a medal from the Humane and Magnanimous Societies.

   • 1865, Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 11: Who Stole the Tarts?:

     The judge, by the way, was the King; and as he wore his crown over the wig, (look at the frontispiece if you want to see how he did it), he did not look at all comfortable, and it was certainly not becoming.

   • 1993, Cormac McCarthy, Outer Dark, page 146:

     After a while he descended the steps into the road again and he stood there and looked all about him and listened for any sound at all but there was nothing.

Usage notes

• In idiomatic sense, almost always used in negative polarity sentences, questions, and conditionals or hypotheticals, as opposed to plain affirmative statements. Structures such as nothing at all, not … any at all, etc. are common.
• May be used to make an offer sound more polite without any particular meaning, e.g. "Would you like some coffee at all?"

Derived terms

• not at all

Translations

References

• “at all”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “all”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Allat, talla