B1adverb2K

Totally

UK /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/US /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/

Definition

completely

In simple words: Completely or very much.

Examples

  • I totally agree with your opinion on the matter.
  • She is totally committed to her training routine.
  • The concert was totally amazing, one of the best I've ever seen!
  • I totally forgot about our meeting today.
  • It’s totally fine if you can’t make it to the party.

Usage notes

Use 'totally' to emphasize an absolute degree of something. It's neutral but can sound informal in some contexts. Avoid in very formal writing.

Grammar pattern

totally + adjective/adverb

Memory hint

Think of 'total' — it's like saying 'the whole amount'.

Collocations

  • totally agree
  • totally awesome
  • totally different
  • totally in love

Synonyms

  • completely
  • entirely
  • absolutely
  • utterly
  • fully

Antonyms

  • partially
  • somewhat

Common mistakes

  • 'Totally' is sometimes confused with 'complete.'
  • Learners may use 'totally' in formal situations when it sounds too casual.
  • Sometimes misused to modify nouns directly.