Cool MateEntirely vs Fully
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Entirely
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Fully
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
| Entirely | Fully | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtaɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtaɪərli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfʊli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfʊli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Completely or fully. | completely or totally |
| Example | The experience was **entirely new** to me. | 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 | entirely different, entirely possible, entirely subjective | fully aware, fully prepared, fully understand, fully loaded, fully engage |
| Antonyms | partially, incompletely | partially, incompletely, slightly |
| Common mistakes | 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. |
| Usage notes | 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. |
Frequently asked questions: Entirely vs Fully
What's the difference between Entirely and Fully?
Entirely: Completely or fully. Fully: completely or totally
Are Entirely and Fully the same CEFR level?
Entirely: B2, Fully: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Entirely and Fully interchangeably?
Not always. Entirely 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.