Cool MateCompletely vs Purely
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Completely
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
Purely
Top 3,000 (common)B2adverb
Most common: Completely
| Completely | Purely | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpjʊəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpjʊrli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Totally or fully. | Only, just, or completely. |
| Example | I completely forgot about the meeting today. | I saw the letter purely by chance. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | completely agree, completely understand, completely satisfied, completely different, completely unaware | purely by chance, purely decorative, purely theoretical |
| Antonyms | partially, incompletely, somewhat | impure, mixed, composite |
| Common mistakes | 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. | Mistakenly using 'purely' when 'just' or 'only' is more appropriate., Confusing 'purely' with 'really' or 'very'., Using 'purely' with nouns instead of adjectives. |
| Usage notes | 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 'purely' in contexts that emphasize exclusivity or completeness. It's suitable for formal writing and speech, but can be used casually as well. Avoid using it in overly informal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Completely vs Purely
What's the difference between Completely and Purely?
Completely: Totally or fully. Purely: Only, just, or completely.
Which is more common: Completely and Purely?
Completely is the most common in everyday English.
Are Completely and Purely the same CEFR level?
Completely: A2, Purely: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Completely and Purely interchangeably?
Not always. Completely and Purely 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.