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end-all

end-all

2 6.8
The most important goal or purpose of something
  • noun
  • /ˈɛndˌɔl/
translation icon : fin supremo
  • People think a statistical model is the end all be all, and it's not.

It's it's not the end all for me anymore.

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Examples

  • This is not intended to be the end-all, be-all of future transportation planning.

    Blog text (26)
  • This vote will not be the end-all, be-all solution to our traffic problems.

    Blog text (12)
  • I think that love is kind of the be all and end all of being a human being.

  • Yeah, I think that it means a lot, especially coming from an African household where school is the end all be all.

  • Low carb can be a fantastic approach for some people, but it's not the be all and end all for everyone.

  • We don't want to allow one person's judgement to be the be all and end all of how the rest of us have to conduct our lives.

  • It is not the be-all or end-all of restoring natural ecosystems.

    Academic text (2001)
  • For many people, financial stability is the end-all of their career aspirations.

  • In her opinion, achieving personal happiness is the end-all that everyone should strive for.

  • He believed that winning the championship was the end-all of their season.

Synonyms

goal
vsend-all
1.0

A result a person or group plans to achieve

is the ultimate final result rather than any planned outcome
end
vsend-all
808 1.0

The aim of a plan or action

is the specifically ultimate final result rather than any ordinary aim
objective
vsend-all
509 3.7

A goal a person or group wants to achieve

is the conclusive ultimate aim rather than a routine planned target
destination
vsend-all
45 2.6

The goal someone wants to reach

is a general final aim, not only an intended arrival point
be-all and end-all
vsend-all
  • Informal
6 7.6

The most important thing or main aim

is the ultimate goal or purpose rather than the sole most important thing
final cause
vsend-all
  • Formal
1 9.9

The purpose for which something exists or is made

is the broad final result or aim rather than a technical cause term
terminus
vsend-all
1 7.5

The final goal of a process or journey

is a general ultimate purpose not only a physical or journey end
telos
vsend-all
  • Formal
1 9.9

The main purpose that something aims for

is the general term for final purpose outside strict philosophical use

Antonyms

10 5.3

Something not related to the main topic

6 5.4

A small detail that does not matter

Surface Forms

end-all singular
end-alls plural

Morphology

end-all = end + all (semi-transparent) = end + all

The components 'end' + 'all' are recognizable, but the idiomatic sense 'ultimate goal' (often in the phrase 'the end-all and be-all') requires idiomatic knowledge beyond simple composition.

Etymology

End-all comes from the older phrase be-all and end-all, where end means 'final result' and all means 'everything'. So end-all is the thing seen as the final or most important goal — the last result that matters.