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for all

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for all

1. To the degree or extent that; insofar as. We might as well have been educated by dogs for all the good their teaching did! For all I know, she could be living in Timbuktu by now!

2. In spite of; notwithstanding. For all our efforts to stop the bill, it still cleared both the House and the Senate with ease.

See also: all

for all something

despite For all their problems, great improvements were made in the country's literacy rates and medical system. For all the difficulties they had getting it produced, the play is a huge success.

Usage notes: used to introduce a fact that is completely different than the information that follows it

See also: all

for all

1. Also, for all that. In spite of, notwithstanding. For example, For all her protests she still loved the attention, or He's too old for the part but he did a good job for all that. [Early 1300s]

2. for all one cares or knows . So far as one knows; also, one doesn't really care or know. These phrases are employed like a negative. For example, He can buy ten houses for all I care, meaning one doesn't care at all, or For all I know she's gone to China, meaning one doesn't really know where she is. [Mid-1700s]

See also: all