all-time
UK: ˈɔːltaɪm | US: ˈɔːltaɪm
adj. being the best, greatest, or most extreme of its kind up to the present time
adj. lasting or enduring through all time
The compound "all-time" combines "all" (Old English eall, meaning "entire" or "whole") and "time" (Old English tīma, meaning "duration" or "period"). It emerged in the early 20th century, originally in sports contexts (e.g., "all-time record"), to denote achievements surpassing any previous or future benchmarks. The logic is straightforward: "all" emphasizes comprehensiveness, while "time" anchors the comparison across history.
The film is considered an all-time classic in cinema history.
She broke the all-time scoring record in the tournament.
This year’s sales figures are the all-time highest for the company.
The band’s latest album is their all-time bestseller.
His dedication to charity work is an all-time inspiration.