Cool MateAbsolutely vs Completely
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
Completely
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
| Absolutely | Completely | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/ |
| Meaning | completely or totally | Totally or fully. |
| Example | I absolutely agree with your point of view. | I completely forgot about the meeting today. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | absolutely certain, absolutely necessary, absolutely perfect, absolutely agree, absolutely right | completely agree, completely understand, completely satisfied, completely different, completely unaware |
| Antonyms | partially, conditionally, uncertainly | partially, incompletely, somewhat |
| Common mistakes | Using 'absolutely' when 'maybe' is more appropriate., Saying 'absolutely' in a sarcastic tone but not indicating sarcasm., Confusing 'absolutely' with 'certainly' in non-emphatic contexts. | Using 'completely' without a verb or action., Confusing 'completely' with 'totally' in formal contexts., Saying 'completely' in casual situations where simpler words like 'really' might fit better. |
| Usage notes | Used to emphasize something; can be informal in some contexts. Avoid in overly casual conversations where simpler terms are preferred. | Use 'completely' to emphasize the totality of an action or state. It's suitable for both spoken and written English but might sound overemphasized in casual conversation. |
Frequently asked questions: Absolutely vs Completely
What's the difference between Absolutely and Completely?
Absolutely: completely or totally Completely: Totally or fully.
Which is more advanced: Absolutely and Completely?
Absolutely is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Absolutely and Completely the same CEFR level?
Absolutely: B1, Completely: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Absolutely and Completely?
Absolutely: adverb, Completely: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Absolutely: I absolutely agree with your point of view. Completely: I completely forgot about the meeting today.
Can I use Absolutely and Completely interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely and Completely are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.