# be-all

/ˈbiːˌɔl/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/be-all
Updated: 2026-08-24

## Definition

the most important thing or the final purpose of something. You often hear it in the phrase "the be-all and end-all" — meaning the only thing that really matters.

For teachers: the ultimate or most essential element; the thing regarded as supremely important. Appears almost exclusively in the fixed expression "the be-all and end-all" (from Shakespeare), denoting the totality of purpose or significance.

## Examples

- Money isn't the be-all of happiness.
- For some athletes, winning a gold medal becomes the be-all of their entire career, overshadowing everything else they achieve.
- He had warned her against treating any single relationship as the be-all and end-all of existence, yet she found herself doing exactly that.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.