whole

American  

[hohl] / hoʊl /

adjective

1. comprising the full quantity, amount, extent, number, etc., without diminution or exception; entire, full, or total.

   He ate the whole pie. They ran the whole distance.

   Synonyms:

   complete, integral, undiminished

   Antonyms:

   partial

2. containing all the elements properly belonging; complete.

   We have a whole set of antique china.

3. undivided; in one piece.

   to swallow a thing whole.

4. Mathematics. integral, or not fractional.

5. not broken, damaged, or impaired; intact.

   Thankfully, the vase arrived whole.

   Synonyms:

   perfect, unimpaired

6. uninjured or unharmed; sound.

   He was surprised to find himself whole after the crash.

7. pertaining to all aspects of human nature, especially one's physical, intellectual, and spiritual development.

   education for the whole person.

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noun

1. the whole assemblage of parts or elements belonging to a thing; the entire quantity, account, extent, or number.

   He accepted some of the parts but rejected the whole.

   Synonyms:

   aggregate, totality

   Antonyms:

   part

2. a thing complete in itself, or comprising all its parts or elements.

3. an assemblage of parts associated or viewed together as one thing; a unitary system.

idioms

1. as a whole, all things included or considered; altogether.

   As a whole, the relocation seems to have been beneficial.

2. on / upon the whole,

   1. in view of all the circumstances; after consideration.

      There were upsides and downsides, but on the whole I thought it best to make the trip now rather than later.

   2. disregarding exceptions; in general.

      On the whole, the neighborhood is improving.

3. out of whole cloth, without foundation in fact; fictitious.

   a story made out of whole cloth.

whole British  

/ həʊl /

adjective

1. containing all the component parts necessary to form a total; complete

   a whole apple

2. constituting the full quantity, extent, etc

3. uninjured or undamaged

4. healthy

5. having no fractional or decimal part; integral

   a whole number

6. of, relating to, or designating a relationship established by descent from the same parents; full

   whole brothers

7. informal entirely without a factual basis

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adverb

1. in an undivided or unbroken piece

   to swallow a plum whole

noun

1. all the parts, elements, etc, of a thing

2. an assemblage of parts viewed together as a unit

3. a thing complete in itself

4. considered altogether; completely

5. 1. taking all things into consideration

   2. in general

whole More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing whole

• as a whole
• go whole hog
• on the whole
• out of whole cloth

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Related Words

Whole, total mean the entire or complete sum or amount. The whole is all there is; every part, member, aspect; the complete sum, amount, quantity of anything, not divided; the entirety: the whole of one's property, family. Total also means whole, complete amount, or number, but conveys the idea of something added together or added up: The total of their gains amounted to millions.

Other Word Forms

• self-whole adjective
• wholeness noun

Etymology

Origin of whole

First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective and noun hole, hool, Old English adjective hāl; cognate with Dutch heel, German heil, Old Norse heill; hale ¹, heal; spelling with w reflects dialect form

Example Sentences

"The truth is economic gravity is reality," she added, explaining that half the UK's trade was with the EU, almost as much as with "the whole of the rest of the world combined".

From BBC

“Energy does tend to have the lowest correlation of any sector to the S&P as a whole,” said Nicholas Colas, co-founder of DataTrek, in an interview.

From Barron's

I was really sad about my Dutch ovens because I had a collection of 20 that I’d been collecting my whole career.

From The Wall Street Journal

The success of that trick, a last-minute pivot, was emblematic of the whole project: What could have been a gimmick actually produced a sophisticated and affecting piece of theater.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I want her nerves to work for her. I want her to have function of her whole body again, and in case she wants to have a family, she can play with her kids.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• full
• perfect