all-comers

adjective

all-com·​ers ¦ȯl-¦kə-mərz How to pronounce all-comers (audio)
: not restricted to a particular group or category of participants : open
At an all-comers track meet he entered the 1,500 meters in his school shorts and no shoes.—Daniel Silva, The Unlikely Spy, 1995
One week into the exhibition season and the 49ers are practically holding all-comers tryouts for quarterback.—Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Aug. 2011

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase open to all comers

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of all-comers was in 1864

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Dictionary Entries Near all-comers

all clear

all-comers

all-commodity rate

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Cite this Entry

“All-comers.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-comers. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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