English Reference
adjective · noun

entire

adj. · n.
US /ɪnˈtaɪɝ/ UK /ɛntˈaɪə/ en·tire UK spelling entires

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adj.including every part of something; whole.

    adj.constituting the full amount, number, or extent of something without exception.

    Simple

    I spent the entire day cleaning the house from top to bottom.

    In context

    The entire population of the village was evacuated before the floodwaters reached the main square.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    adj.having a smooth edge without any teeth or notches.

    adj.describing a leaf margin that is smooth and continuous, lacking serrations, lobes, or indentations.

    Simple

    You can identify this tree by its long leaves with entire edges.

    In context

    The botanist noted that the specimen's entire margins distinguished it from the closely related species which typically features serrated leaves.

    serratedlobed
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical

    adj.used to describe a male animal, especially a horse, that has not been operated on to prevent it from breeding.

    adj.referring to a male animal, particularly a stallion, that has not been gelded or castrated.

    Simple

    The farmer decided to keep the young horse entire for breeding purposes.

    In context

    Managing an entire stallion requires significant expertise due to the animal's unpredictable temperament compared to a gelding.

    uncastratedintact
    geldedcastrated
  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Archaic

    n.the total amount or the whole of something.

    n.the totality or completeness of an entity; the entirety.

    Simple

    He gave the entire of his fortune to the local hospital.

    In context

    The philosopher argued that one must consider the entire of human experience rather than focusing on isolated incidents.

Usage entire life · entire political · entire area

They are erasing our entire history, our entire culture, all our memories.

The Guardian· 12 Aug 2026

Figures from Visit Britain suggest renting an entire property in Edinburgh to sleep one or two people cost visitors £204.68 a day in August in 2025.

BBC News· 12 Aug 2026

From Middle English entere, enter, borrowed from Anglo-Norman entier, from Latin integrum, accusative of integer (“whole”), from Proto-Italic *əntagros (“untouched”). Doublet of entier and integer.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin itc-pro *əntagros
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Very common
Updated