Cool MateEntirely vs Wholly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Entirely
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Wholly
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)C1adverb
Most formal: WhollyMost common: Entirely
| Entirely | Wholly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtaɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtaɪərli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhəʊlli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhəʊlli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Completely or fully. | Completely or entirely. |
| Example | The experience was **entirely new** to me. | wholly inappropriate behaviour |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | entirely different, entirely possible, entirely subjective | wholly owned, wholly different, wholly inadequate |
| Antonyms | partially, incompletely | partially, incompletely, halfway |
| 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. | 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 | Used to emphasize completeness. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts; however, avoid in overly casual conversations. | 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: Entirely vs Wholly
What's the difference between Entirely and Wholly?
Entirely: Completely or fully. Wholly: Completely or entirely.
Which is more formal: Entirely and Wholly?
Wholly is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Entirely and Wholly?
Entirely is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Entirely and Wholly?
Wholly is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Entirely and Wholly the same CEFR level?
Entirely: B2, Wholly: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Entirely and Wholly?
Entirely: adverb, Wholly: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Entirely: The experience was **entirely new** to me. Wholly: wholly inappropriate behaviour
Can I use Entirely and Wholly interchangeably?
Not always. Entirely 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.