Word
altogether
Phoneticsal·to·geth·er, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɔɫtəˈɡɛðɝ/
UK/ˌɔːltəɡˈɛðɐ/
Adverb of degree
Definitions
01completely
B1 · Intermediate
adv. completely or totally.
adv. to a complete or total degree; entirely.
“The train stopped altogether and we had to wait for an hour.”
“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).
Synonyms
02in total
B1 · Intermediate
adv. including everything or everyone.
adv. with everything included in a final count or sum.
日本語:全部※
“There were fifteen people at the dinner party altogether.”
“Altogether, the renovation cost nearly twice the original estimate, forcing the family to delay their holiday plans.”
Synonyms
03considering everything
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used to give a general opinion after thinking about all the details.
adv. taking everything into consideration; on the whole.
“It was a difficult journey, but altogether a great experience.”
“Altogether, the performance was a success, despite the technical difficulties that plagued the opening scene.”
04naked
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Informal · British English
n. a way to say someone is not wearing any clothes.
n. a state of nakedness; almost exclusively used in the phrase 'in the altogether'.
“The artist preferred to paint his subjects in the altogether.”
“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'.
Teaching tip
This is a humorous or euphemistic way to say 'naked' and is becoming less common in modern speech.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “altogether” in context.
Verb
01. altogether ignore
“It is not wise to altogether ignore the warnings from the local authorities.”
adv + verb
02. avoid altogether
“If you want to lose weight, you should try to avoid sugary drinks altogether.”
verb + adv
03. disappear altogether
“The symptoms might disappear altogether after a few days of rest.”
verb + adv
04. stop altogether
“The music didn't just get quieter; it stopped altogether.”
verb + adv
Adjective
05. altogether clear
“It is not altogether clear why the company decided to close the branch.”
adv + adj
06. altogether different
“The second version of the book is an altogether different story.”
adv + adj
07. altogether new
“Moving to a new country was an altogether new experience for the family.”
adv + adj
Confusables
Altogether means completely or in total, while all together describes a group acting or gathered in one place.
RememberAltogether = All-in-all. All together = All at once.
Real-World Examples
“At Shambhala, free testing offers peace of mind — but can’t eliminate risk altogether.” “The Charity Commission must investigate them as well and move quickly to stamp out this behaviour altogether.” “Not only can cooking in hot weather feel like a chore, but many of us find ourselves feeling less hungry altogether.” “China, for example, still relies on coal for more than half of its energy, meaning emissions simply have shifted abroad rather than been reduced altogether.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/altogether
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0