all's well that ends well: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (proficiency)formal, literary, proverbial
Quick answer
What does “all's well that ends well” mean?
A problematic situation is ultimately judged by its successful final outcome.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A problematic situation is ultimately judged by its successful final outcome.
A proverbial expression meaning that if something finishes successfully, any earlier difficulties or problems along the way are unimportant or forgiven.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. More likely to appear in British literary or formal contexts due to Shakespearean association.
Connotations
British: literary, classical, slightly old-fashioned. American: formal, sometimes used humorously or ironically.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, used primarily as a fixed proverb.
Grammar
How to Use “all's well that ends well” in a Sentence
[Sentence]. Still, all's well that ends well.As the proverb says, all's well that ends well.It was a difficult project, but all's well that ends well.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “all's well that ends well” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The venture had its share of hiccups, but it concluded with the team reminding themselves that all's well that ends well.
American English
- The launch was chaotic, but we got the product out, and as they say, all's well that ends well.
adjective
British English
- It was a classic all's-well-that-ends-well scenario, much to everyone's relief.
American English
- We're hoping for an all's-well-that-ends-well resolution to this legal dispute.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in post-project reviews to acknowledge past challenges while celebrating final success.
Academic
Appears in literary criticism of Shakespeare's play and in discussions of narrative closure.
Everyday
Used to express relief after a stressful event concludes positively.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “all's well that ends well”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “all's well that ends well”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “all's well that ends well”
- Incorrect: *All is well that ends well. (Correct: All's well...)
- Incorrect: *All well that ends well. (Missing contraction and verb.)
- Incorrect use in ongoing situations; it is only for concluded events.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is considered formal, literary, or slightly old-fashioned. It is often used knowingly, referencing its Shakespearean origin.
Yes, but cautiously. It's suitable for reflective summaries or closing remarks on a successfully concluded, though difficult, project. It may sound clichéd or informal in very formal reports.
The subject is the impersonal 'all' (meaning 'everything'). 'All's' is a contraction of 'All is'. The clause 'that ends well' is a relative clause defining 'all'.
Not a direct, fixed opposite. The sentiment is contradicted by phrases like 'a bad beginning makes a bad ending' or simply stating that a poor outcome negates earlier efforts.
A problematic situation is ultimately judged by its successful final outcome.
All's well that ends well is usually formal, literary, proverbial in register.
All's well that ends well: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɔːlz ˌwel ðət ˌendz ˈwel/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɔlz ˌwel ðət ˌɛndz ˈwel/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to end on a high note”
- “to save the day”
- “to turn out for the best”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of Shakespeare's play title: 'All's Well That Ends Well'. The word 'ends' is in the middle, and the phrase starts and finishes with 'well'.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOURNEY (The difficulties of the journey are forgotten upon reaching the destination.)
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the proverb 'all's well that ends well' MOST appropriately used?