all along

adverb

: all the time
knew the truth all along

Examples of all along in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At the end of season one, Sophie killed Margo’s brother in self-defense after discovering her lover was Abby’s killer all along (more details on that over here). — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026 To that end, Gershin added more backgrounds and foley, adding detail and supervising a pass in Dolby Atmos, all along being careful not to betray the intentions of the original work. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026 Wireless, supportive, and simple to store, this is the purchase your home’s been missing all along. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026 Her goal all along was to own a men’s Premier League team to make men listen to her. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for all along

Word History

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of all along was in 1619

Rhymes for all along

See All Rhymes for all along

Browse Nearby Words

Allais
all along
allamanda
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“All along.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all%20along. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

all along

adverb
: all the time
knew the truth all along
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inscrutable

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All