ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wholly

adv. degree
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈhoʊɫi// UK //hˈəʊli// whol·ly

adv. completely or fully. You use it to emphasize that something is 100% true or finished.

adv. to the full or entire extent; completely and without exception.


SIMPLE

The two situations are wholly different.

CONTEXTUAL

The committee decided to reject the proposal because it was wholly inadequate for the city's needs.

COMPLEX

While the author acknowledges some outside influence, the central thesis of the book remains wholly original and challenges several long-standing academic assumptions.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English holly, holeliche, holliche (also as halely, hallich, etc.), equivalent to whole + -ly. Doublet of holy.

Usage

A degree adverb that typically modifies adjectives or verbs to indicate total completeness.

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