Cool MateAltogether vs Completely vs Entirely vs Fully vs Totally vs Wholly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Altogether
Completely
Entirely
Fully
Totally
Wholly
| Altogether | Completely | Entirely | Fully | Totally | Wholly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtaɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtaɪərli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfʊli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfʊli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhəʊlli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhəʊlli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Completely or in total. | Totally or fully. | Completely or fully. | completely or totally | Completely or very much. | Completely or entirely. |
| 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. | wholly inappropriate behaviour |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A2 | B2 | B2 | B1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | 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 | wholly owned, wholly different, wholly inadequate |
| Antonyms | partially, separately | partially, incompletely, somewhat | partially, incompletely | partially, incompletely, slightly | partially, somewhat | partially, incompletely, halfway |
| 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. | Confused with 'holy' or 'holey'., Omitting the word when it's necessary for emphasis., Misusing it in informal contexts where simpler words would work better. |
| 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. | Often used in formal writing or speech. It is appropriate when emphasizing totality, but less commonly used in everyday conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Altogether vs Completely vs Entirely vs Fully vs Totally vs Wholly
What's the difference between Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly?
Altogether: Completely or in total. Completely: Totally or fully. Entirely: Completely or fully. Fully: completely or totally Totally: Completely or very much. Wholly: Completely or entirely.
Which is more formal: Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly?
Wholly is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly?
Completely is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly?
Wholly is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly the same CEFR level?
Altogether: B2, Completely: A2, Entirely: B2, Fully: B2, Totally: B1, Wholly: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly?
Altogether: adverb, Completely: adverb, Entirely: adverb, Fully: adverb, Totally: adverb, Wholly: 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. Wholly: wholly inappropriate behaviour
Can I use Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly interchangeably?
Not always. Altogether, Completely, Entirely, Fully, Totally, and Wholly 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.