ENGLISH
REFERENCE

altogether

adv. · n.
US //ˌɔɫtəˈɡɛðɝ// UK //ˌɔːltəɡˈɛðɐ// al·to·geth·er
  1. 1 completely (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate

    completely or totally.

    to a complete or total degree; entirely.

    Example

    The train stopped altogether and we had to wait for an hour.

    Example

    The project was abandoned altogether after the primary investors withdrew their support during the second quarter.
    Pitfall
    The two friends were all together in the park.
    The two friends were altogether happy.

    Do not confuse 'altogether' (completely) with 'all together' (everyone in one place).

  2. 2 in total (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate

    including everything or everyone.

    with everything included in a final count or sum.

    Example

    There were fifteen people at the dinner party altogether.

    Example

    Altogether, the renovation cost nearly twice the original estimate, forcing the family to delay their holiday plans.
    • in total
    • all told
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 considering everything (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    used to give a general opinion after thinking about all the details.

    taking everything into consideration; on the whole.

    Example

    It was a difficult journey, but altogether a great experience.

    Example

    Altogether, the performance was a success, despite the technical difficulties that plagued the opening scene.
  2. 4 naked (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal British English

    a way to say someone is not wearing any clothes.

    a state of nakedness; almost exclusively used in the phrase 'in the altogether'.

    Example

    The artist preferred to paint his subjects in the altogether.

    Example

    The vintage photograph depicted several swimmers posing in the altogether by a secluded lake in the mountains.

    Usage

    Usually occurs as the object of the preposition 'in'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a humorous or euphemistic way to say 'naked' and is becoming less common in modern speech.
Origin

From Middle English altogeder, altogedere, equivalent to al- (“all”) + together. Cognate with Scots awthegither (“altogether”), Middle High German alzegater (“altogether”), Dutch altegaar. Compare also Old English ealġeador, eallġeador (“altogether”), West Frisian allegearre (“altogether”). More at together. The noun sense (nakedness): was popularized in George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby.

© 2026 English Reference