It's been implied in other answers, but not stated explicitly, that "every time" and "all the time" use two different meanings of the word "time". As Barmar said in a comment, the former is countable (like beans) and the latter is uncountable (like water). The construction "every X" forces us to interpret X as countable. Specifically, "every time" uses meaning 3.4 below (abridged from the ["time" wiktionary entry][1], with emphasis added) whereas "all the time" uses meaning 1 (or possibly a version of 2). [1]: https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=time&oldid=65600074 > *time* (countable and uncountable, plural *times*) > > 1. **(uncountable) The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events.** > > * ***Time** stops for nobody.* > * *the ebb and flow of **time*** > > 2. A duration of time. > > > 3. An instant of time. > > 3.1. (uncountable) How much of a day has passed; the moment, as indicated by a clock or similar device. > > 3.2. (countable) A particular moment or hour; the appropriate moment or hour for something (especially with prepositional phrase or imperfect subjunctive). > > 3.3. (countable) A numerical indication of a particular moment. > > 3.4. **(countable) An instance or occurrence:** > > * *When was the last **time** we went out? I don’t remember.* > * *see you another **time*** > * *that’s three **times** he’s made the same mistake* > * *Okay, but this is the last **time**. No more after that!* > > 3.5 (UK, in public houses) Closing time. > > 3.6 The hour of childbirth. > > 3.7 (as *someone's time*) The end of someone's life, conceived by the speaker as having been predestined. > > 4. (countable) The measurement under some system of region of day or moment. > > 5. (countable) Ratio of comparison. > > 6. (grammar, dated) Tense. > > 7. (music) The measured duration of sounds; measure; tempo; rate of movement; rhythmical division. It's probably worth mentioning that you *can* use "every X" to get the sense of "all the time" if you divide time into countable units. A person who has (and is hopefully seeking help for) Generalized Anxiety Disorder might say: * *How often do I feel anxious? **Every second** of the day!* * *How often do I feel anxious? **Every** waking **moment**!* If you want to keep the word "time", you need a construction that does not force a countable interpretation, such as: * *How often do I feel anxious? **All the time**!*