Cool MateAltogether vs Entirely vs Fully vs Totally vs Wholly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Altogether
Entirely
Fully
Totally
Wholly
| Altogether | Entirely | Fully | Totally | Wholly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtaɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtaɪərli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfʊli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfʊli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhəʊlli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhəʊlli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Completely or in total. | Completely or fully. | completely or totally | Completely or very much. | Completely or entirely. |
| Example | The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether. | The experience was **entirely new** to me. | I **fully understand** your motives. | I totally agree with your opinion on the matter. | wholly inappropriate behaviour |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 | B2 | B1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | altogether now, altogether different, altogether combined | entirely different, entirely possible, entirely subjective | fully aware, fully prepared, fully understand, fully loaded, fully engage | totally agree, totally awesome, totally different, totally in love | wholly owned, wholly different, wholly inadequate |
| Antonyms | partially, separately | partially, incompletely | partially, incompletely, slightly | partially, somewhat | partially, incompletely, halfway |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'all together', which means everyone or everything gathered., Omitting it in sentences where emphasis on total is needed., Using it in a place where 'completely' would be better. | Confused with 'entire' which is an adjective., Used incorrectly in informal contexts, such as in slang., Misplaced in a sentence, making it sound awkward. | Using 'fully' in place of 'very' which is not always correct., Confusing 'fully' with 'fill' in terms of spelling., 'Fully' is sometimes misused in contexts where 'entirely' or 'completely' fit better. | 'Totally' is sometimes confused with 'complete.', Learners may use 'totally' in formal situations when it sounds too casual., Sometimes misused to modify nouns directly. | Confused with 'holy' or 'holey'., Omitting the word when it's necessary for emphasis., Misusing it in informal contexts where simpler words would work better. |
| Usage notes | Use 'altogether' when you want to emphasize a total amount. Avoid in very formal writing; 'in total' might be better. | Used to emphasize completeness. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts; however, avoid in overly casual conversations. | Use 'fully' to emphasize that something is done to the highest degree. Avoid using it in very casual speech where simpler words like 'really' may be preferred. | Use 'totally' to emphasize an absolute degree of something. It's neutral but can sound informal in some contexts. Avoid in very formal writing. | Often used in formal writing or speech. It is appropriate when emphasizing totality, but less commonly used in everyday conversation. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Altogether vs Entirely vs Fully vs Totally vs Wholly
What's the difference between Altogether, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly?
Altogether: Completely or in total. Entirely: Completely or fully. Fully: completely or totally Totally: Completely or very much. Wholly: Completely or entirely.
Which is more formal: Altogether, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly?
Wholly is the most formal of these.
Which is more advanced: Altogether, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly?
Wholly is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Altogether, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly the same CEFR level?
Altogether: B2, Entirely: B2, Fully: B2, Totally: B1, Wholly: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Altogether, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly?
Altogether: adverb, Entirely: adverb, Fully: adverb, Totally: adverb, Wholly: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Altogether: The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether. Entirely: The experience was **entirely new** to me. Fully: I **fully understand** your motives. Totally: I totally agree with your opinion on the matter. Wholly: wholly inappropriate behaviour
Can I use Altogether, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly interchangeably?
Not always. Altogether, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly 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.