BY ALL MEANS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does by all means mean? 

• BY ALL MEANS (adverb)
  The adverb BY ALL MEANS has 1 sense:

1. definitely or certainly

  Familiarity information: BY ALL MEANS used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BY ALL MEANS (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Definitely or certainly

Context example:

Visit us by all means

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Antonym:

by no means (definitely not)

 Context examples 

By all means no—that is, if you want to see it in print.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

If you feel a course in grammar or creative writing would help, then by all means sign up, and study on weekends or nights.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

“Well, you take the case up by all means, and let me know if you do any good.”

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

By all means take another cigarette.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Oh, very well," he said; "let her come in, by all means; but just wait a minute till I tidy up the place."

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Yes, yes, answered the mouse, by all means go, and if you get anything very good to eat, think of me.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

By all means go to Holland, and you can get a boat from Rotterdam to New York.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Oh, I will go by all means," I answered: and I was glad of the unexpected opportunity to gratify my much-excited curiosity.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

By all means, sonny my boy!

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Go, by all means, my dear; only put on a white gown; Miss Tilney always wears white.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)