Cool MateEntirely vs Totally
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Entirely
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Totally
Top 2,000 (common)B1adverb
| Entirely | Totally | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtaɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtaɪərli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Completely or fully. | Completely or very much. |
| Example | The experience was **entirely new** to me. | I totally agree with your opinion on the matter. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | entirely different, entirely possible, entirely subjective | totally agree, totally awesome, totally different, totally in love |
| Antonyms | partially, incompletely | partially, somewhat |
| 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. | '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 | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Entirely vs Totally
What's the difference between Entirely and Totally?
Entirely: Completely or fully. Totally: Completely or very much.
Which is more advanced: Entirely and Totally?
Entirely is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Entirely and Totally the same CEFR level?
Entirely: B2, Totally: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Entirely and Totally?
Entirely: adverb, Totally: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Entirely: The experience was **entirely new** to me. Totally: I totally agree with your opinion on the matter.
Can I use Entirely and Totally interchangeably?
Not always. Entirely 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.