B2adverb2K

Entirely

UK /["/ɪnˈtaɪəli/"]/US /["/ɪnˈtaɪərli/"]/

Definition

in every way possible; completely

In simple words: Completely or fully.

Examples

The experience was **entirely new** to me.
That's an **entirely different** matter.
We're not entirely sure what to do next.
The approach taken will depend entirely on the individual.
The audience consisted **almost entirely** of children.
I entirely agree with you.
I'm not entirely happy about the proposal.
Public anger at this abuse of power is entirely justified.
Your enjoyment of the book will depend entirely on how interested you are in history.
The audience was almost entirely female.

Usage notes

Used to emphasize completeness. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts; however, avoid in overly casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

entirely + adverb/adjective/verb

Memory hint

Think of 'entire' — if something is entire, it is completely whole.

Collocations

entirely different
entirely possible
entirely subjective

Synonyms

completely
fully
totally
wholly

Antonyms

partially
incompletely

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.