Cool MateAltogether vs Completely vs Entirely vs Fully vs Totally
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Altogether
Completely
Entirely
Fully
Totally
| Altogether | Completely | Entirely | Fully | Totally | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtaɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtaɪərli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfʊli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfʊli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Completely or in total. | Totally or fully. | Completely or fully. | completely or totally | Completely or very much. |
| Example | The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether. | I completely forgot about the meeting today. | The experience was **entirely new** to me. | I **fully understand** your motives. | I totally agree with your opinion on the matter. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A2 | B2 | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | altogether now, altogether different, altogether combined | completely agree, completely understand, completely satisfied, completely different, completely unaware | 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 |
| Antonyms | partially, separately | partially, incompletely, somewhat | partially, incompletely | partially, incompletely, slightly | partially, somewhat |
| 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 '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. | 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. |
| Usage notes | Use 'altogether' when you want to emphasize a total amount. Avoid in very formal writing; 'in total' might be better. | 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. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Altogether vs Completely vs Entirely vs Fully vs Totally
What's the difference between Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, and Totally?
Altogether: Completely or in total. Completely: Totally or fully. Entirely: Completely or fully. Fully: completely or totally Totally: Completely or very much.
Which is more common: Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, and Totally?
Completely is the most common in everyday English.
Are Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, and Totally the same CEFR level?
Altogether: B2, Completely: A2, Entirely: B2, Fully: B2, Totally: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, and Totally?
Altogether: adverb, Completely: adverb, Entirely: adverb, Fully: adverb, Totally: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Altogether: The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether. Completely: I completely forgot about the meeting today. Entirely: The experience was **entirely new** to me. Fully: I **fully understand** your motives. Totally: I totally agree with your opinion on the matter.
Can I use Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, and Totally interchangeably?
Not always. Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, and Totally 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.