Cool MateAbsolutely vs Definitely vs Totally
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
Definitely
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
Totally
Top 2,000 (common)B1adverb
| Absolutely | Definitely | Totally | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | completely or totally | For sure, without a doubt | Completely or very much. |
| Example | I absolutely agree with your point of view. | I definitely remember sending the letter. | I totally agree with your opinion on the matter. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | absolutely certain, absolutely necessary, absolutely perfect, absolutely agree, absolutely right | definitely agree, definitely believe, definitely know | totally agree, totally awesome, totally different, totally in love |
| Antonyms | partially, conditionally, uncertainly | doubtfully, uncertainly | 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. | Often confused with 'defiantly' which means resisting authority., Sometimes spelled incorrectly as 'definately'. | '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 '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. | Use 'totally' to emphasize an absolute degree of something. It's neutral but can sound informal in some contexts. Avoid in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Absolutely vs Definitely vs Totally
What's the difference between Absolutely, Definitely, and Totally?
Absolutely: completely or totally Definitely: For sure, without a doubt Totally: Completely or very much.
Are Absolutely, Definitely, and Totally the same CEFR level?
Absolutely: B1, Definitely: A2, Totally: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Absolutely, Definitely, and Totally?
Absolutely: adverb, Definitely: adverb, Totally: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Absolutely: I absolutely agree with your point of view. Definitely: I definitely remember sending the letter. Totally: I totally agree with your opinion on the matter.
Can I use Absolutely, Definitely, and Totally interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely, Definitely, 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.