Cool MateAbsolutely vs Definitely vs Entirely vs Totally vs Utterly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely
Definitely
Entirely
Totally
Utterly
| Absolutely | Definitely | Entirely | Totally | Utterly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtaɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtaɪərli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈʌtəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈʌtərli/"]/ |
| Meaning | completely or totally | For sure, without a doubt | Completely or fully. | Completely or very much. | completely or very much |
| Example | I absolutely agree with your point of view. | I definitely remember sending the letter. | The experience was **entirely new** to me. | I totally agree with your opinion on the matter. | We're so utterly different from each other. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 | B2 | B1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | absolutely certain, absolutely necessary, absolutely perfect, absolutely agree, absolutely right | definitely agree, definitely believe, definitely know | entirely different, entirely possible, entirely subjective | totally agree, totally awesome, totally different, totally in love | utterly amazed, utterly ridiculous, utterly defeated, utterly confused, utterly hopeless |
| Antonyms | partially, conditionally, uncertainly | doubtfully, uncertainly | partially, incompletely | partially, somewhat | partially, slightly |
| 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'. | Confused with 'entire' which is an adjective., Used incorrectly in informal contexts, such as in slang., Misplaced in a sentence, making it sound awkward. | '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 'totally' in overly casual contexts., Using 'utterly' for countable nouns, which is incorrect. |
| 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. | Used to emphasize completeness. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts; however, avoid in overly casual conversations. | Use 'totally' to emphasize an absolute degree of something. It's neutral but can sound informal in some contexts. Avoid in very formal writing. | Use 'utterly' in both spoken and written English to emphasize the totality of an action or state. It is more intense than just saying 'very'. It may not be appropriate in casual conversation, where simpler terms are often preferred. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Absolutely vs Definitely vs Entirely vs Totally vs Utterly
What's the difference between Absolutely, Definitely, Entirely, Totally, and Utterly?
Absolutely: completely or totally Definitely: For sure, without a doubt Entirely: Completely or fully. Totally: Completely or very much. Utterly: completely or very much
Which is more advanced: Absolutely, Definitely, Entirely, Totally, and Utterly?
Utterly is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Absolutely, Definitely, Entirely, Totally, and Utterly the same CEFR level?
Absolutely: B1, Definitely: A2, Entirely: B2, Totally: B1, Utterly: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Absolutely, Definitely, Entirely, Totally, and Utterly?
Absolutely: adverb, Definitely: adverb, Entirely: adverb, Totally: adverb, Utterly: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Absolutely: I absolutely agree with your point of view. Definitely: I definitely remember sending the letter. Entirely: The experience was **entirely new** to me. Totally: I totally agree with your opinion on the matter. Utterly: We're so utterly different from each other.
Can I use Absolutely, Definitely, Entirely, Totally, and Utterly interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely, Definitely, Entirely, Totally, and Utterly 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.