all
determiner
a the whole quantity or amount of; totality of; every one of a class
all the rice, all men are mortal
b (as pronoun; functioning as sing or pl)
all of it is nice, all are welcome
c (in combination with a noun used as a modifier)
an all-ticket match, an all-amateur tournament, an all-night sitting
2 the greatest possible
in all earnestness
3 any whatever
to lose all hope of recovery, beyond all doubt
4 ♦
above all most of all; especially
5 ♦
after all See →
after →
11
6 ♦
all along all the time
7 ♦
all but almost; nearly
all but dead
8 ♦
all of no less or smaller than
she's all of thirteen years
a finished; at an end
the affair is all over between us
b over the whole area (of something); everywhere (in, on, etc.)
all over England
c (Also (Irish))
all out typically; representatively (in the phrase that's me (you, him, us, them, etc.) all over)
d unduly effusive towards
e (Sport) in a dominant position over
a everything considered
all in all, it was a great success
b the object of one's attention or interest
you are my all in all
12 ♦
all that (Also)
that usually used with a negative
Informal (intensifier)
she's not all that intelligent
13 ♦
all the foll by a comparative adjective or adverb so much (more or less) than otherwise
we must work all the faster now
14 ♦
all too definitely but regrettably
it's all too true
15 ♦
and all (Brit)
informal as well; too
and you can take that smile off your face and all
16 ♦
and all that
Informal
a and similar or associated things; et cetera
coffee, tea, and all that will be served in the garden
b used as a filler or to make what precedes more vague: in this sense, it often occurs with concessive force
she was sweet and pretty and all that, but I still didn't like her
17 ♦
as all that as one might expect or hope
she's not as pretty as all that, but she has personality
a used with a negative or in a question in any way whatsoever or to any extent or degree
I didn't know that at all
b even so; anyway
I'm surprised you came at all
19 ♦
be all for
Informal to be strongly in favour of
a in so far as; to the extent that
for all anyone knows, he was a baron
b notwithstanding
for all my pushing, I still couldn't move it
21 ♦
for all that in spite of that
he was a nice man for all that
22 ♦
in all altogether
there were five of them in all
adv
23 (in scores of games) apiece; each
the score at half time was three all
n
24 preceded by: my, your, his, etc. (one's) complete effort or interest
to give your all, you are my all
25 totality or whole,
(Related prefixes)
→
pan- →
panto- (Old English eall; related to Old High German al, Old Norse allr, Gothic alls all)
that (unstressed)
determiner used before a singular n
a used preceding a noun that has been mentioned at some time or is understood
that idea of yours
b (as pronoun)
don't eat that, that's what I mean
a used preceding a noun that denotes something more remote or removed
that dress is cheaper than this one, that building over there is for sale
b (as pronoun)
that is John and this is his wife, give me that Compare →
this
3 used to refer to something that is familiar
that old chap from across the street
4 ♦
and (all) that
Informal everything connected with the subject mentioned
he knows a lot about building and that
5 ♦
at that completive-intensive additionally, all things considered, or nevertheless
he's a pleasant fellow at that, I might decide to go at that
a with ease; effortlessly
he gave me the answer just like that
b of such a nature, character, etc.
he paid for all our tickets <emdash> he's like that
8 ♦
that's more like it that is better, an improvement, etc.
9 ♦
that's that there is no more to be done, discussed, etc.
10 ♦
with (or at) that thereupon; having said or done that
conj subordinating
11 used to introduce a noun clause
I believe that you'll come
12 (Also)
so that, in order that used to introduce a clause of purpose
they fought that others might have peace
13 used to introduce a clause of result
he laughed so hard that he cried
14 used to introduce a clause after an understood sentence expressing desire, indignation, or amazement
oh, that I had never lived!
adv
15 used with adjectives or adverbs to reinforce the specification of a precise degree already mentioned
go just that fast and you should be safe
16 (Also)
all that usually used with a negative
Informal (intensifier)
he wasn't that upset at the news
17 Dialect (intensifier)
the cat was that weak after the fight
pron
18 used to introduce a restrictive relative clause
the book that we want
19 used to introduce a clause with the verb to be to emphasize the extent to which the preceding noun is applicable
genius that she is, she outwitted the computer
(Old English thæt; related to Old Frisian thet, Old Norse, Old Saxon that, Old High German daz, Greek to, Latin istud, Sanskrit tad)
Precise stylists maintain a distinction between that and which: that is used as a relative pronoun in restrictive clauses and which in nonrestrictive clauses. In the book that is on the table is mine, the clause that is on the table is used to distinguish one particular book (the one on the table) from another or others (which may be anywhere, but not on the table). In the book, which is on the table, is mine, the which clause is merely descriptive or incidental. The more formal the level of language, the more important it is to preserve the distinction between the two relative pronouns; but in informal or colloquial usage, the words are often used interchangeably