# wholly

/ˈhoʊɫi/ (US) · /hˈəʊli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wholly
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. completely

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

completely and entirely, with no exceptions.

For teachers: to the fullest extent or degree; used to indicate that a state or action is absolute.

- The two situations are wholly different and cannot be compared.
- The committee found that the initial reports were wholly inaccurate, leading to a complete restructuring of the project's timeline.

Usage: As a non-gradable adverb, it does not take modifiers like 'very' or 'extremely'.

### 2. exclusively

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

only or solely; involving nothing else.

For teachers: exclusively or solely; indicating that a particular factor is the only one involved.

- The company is now wholly owned by a larger international group.
- The success of the initiative was wholly dependent on the cooperation of local authorities, without whom the plan would have failed.

Usage: Frequently used in legal or business contexts to describe ownership or responsibility.

## Examples

- The two situations are wholly different.
- The committee decided to reject the proposal because it was wholly inadequate for the city's needs.
- While the author acknowledges some outside influence, the central thesis of the book remains wholly original and challenges several long-standing academic assumptions.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.