Cool MateAltogether vs Fully
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Altogether
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Fully
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
| Altogether | Fully | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfʊli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfʊli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Completely or in total. | completely or totally |
| Example | The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether. | I **fully understand** your motives. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | altogether now, altogether different, altogether combined | fully aware, fully prepared, fully understand, fully loaded, fully engage |
| Antonyms | partially, separately | partially, incompletely, slightly |
| 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. | 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. |
| Usage notes | Use 'altogether' when you want to emphasize a total amount. Avoid in very formal writing; 'in total' might be better. | 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. |
Frequently asked questions: Altogether vs Fully
What's the difference between Altogether and Fully?
Altogether: Completely or in total. Fully: completely or totally
Are Altogether and Fully the same CEFR level?
Altogether: B2, Fully: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Altogether and Fully?
Altogether: adverb, Fully: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Altogether: The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether. Fully: I **fully understand** your motives.
Can I use Altogether and Fully interchangeably?
Not always. Altogether and Fully 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.