Cool MateAbsolutely vs Completely vs Definitely vs Entirely vs Totally
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely
Completely
Definitely
Entirely
Totally
| Absolutely | Completely | Definitely | Entirely | Totally | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtaɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtaɪərli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | completely or totally | Totally or fully. | For sure, without a doubt | Completely or fully. | Completely or very much. |
| Example | I absolutely agree with your point of view. | I completely forgot about the meeting today. | I definitely remember sending the letter. | The experience was **entirely new** to me. | I totally agree with your opinion on the matter. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 | A2 | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | absolutely certain, absolutely necessary, absolutely perfect, absolutely agree, absolutely right | completely agree, completely understand, completely satisfied, completely different, completely unaware | definitely agree, definitely believe, definitely know | entirely different, entirely possible, entirely subjective | totally agree, totally awesome, totally different, totally in love |
| Antonyms | partially, conditionally, uncertainly | partially, incompletely, somewhat | doubtfully, uncertainly | partially, incompletely | partially, 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. | Often confused with 'defiantly' which means resisting authority., Sometimes spelled incorrectly as 'definately'. | Confused with 'entire' which is an adjective., Used incorrectly in informal contexts, such as in slang., Misplaced in a sentence, making it sound awkward. | 'Totally' is sometimes confused with 'complete.', Learners may use 'totally' in formal situations when it sounds too casual., Sometimes misused to modify nouns directly. |
| 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. | Use 'definitely' to emphasize certainty. It fits well in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where alternatives like 'certainly' might be more suitable. | Used to emphasize completeness. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts; however, avoid in overly casual conversations. | Use 'totally' to emphasize an absolute degree of something. It's neutral but can sound informal in some contexts. Avoid in very formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: Absolutely vs Completely vs Definitely vs Entirely vs Totally
What's the difference between Absolutely, Completely, Definitely, Entirely, and Totally?
Absolutely: completely or totally Completely: Totally or fully. Definitely: For sure, without a doubt Entirely: Completely or fully. Totally: Completely or very much.
Which is more advanced: Absolutely, Completely, Definitely, Entirely, and Totally?
Entirely is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Absolutely, Completely, Definitely, Entirely, and Totally the same CEFR level?
Absolutely: B1, Completely: A2, Definitely: A2, Entirely: B2, Totally: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Absolutely, Completely, Definitely, Entirely, and Totally?
Absolutely: adverb, Completely: adverb, Definitely: adverb, Entirely: adverb, Totally: 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. Definitely: I definitely remember sending the letter. Entirely: The experience was **entirely new** to me. Totally: I totally agree with your opinion on the matter.
Can I use Absolutely, Completely, Definitely, Entirely, and Totally interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely, Completely, Definitely, Entirely, and Totally 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.