utterly
Americanadverb
adverb
Etymology
Origin of utterly
A Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at utter 2, -ly
Explanation
Utterly is an intensifying word: something utterly delicious is very, very delicious. One thing people love to do is exaggerate. You often hear people talking about how awesome or awful things are. When you're laying it on thick, utterly is an utterly useful word: it means something similar to completely, totally, or very. Something utterly disappointing is extremely disappointing. Something utterly wonderful is wonderful times ten. When you get tired of writing very, utterly is a good word choice.
Vocabulary lists containing utterly
A Long Walk to Water
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Diary of Anne Frank
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Easter, 1916" by W.B. Yeats
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His parents and sister were in shock, and his wife, Erika, was utterly devastated.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
The defendant has contended he did not realise that he had run over anyone -- a claim that another prosecutor, Marco Reinl, called utterly implausible.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
"One of the first things I did was publicly say that we would tackle racism in this organisation, because it's abhorrent and utterly unacceptable. And we did," he said.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
Not because the story and characters were anything less than gripping —I was utterly transfixed.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
The crew staggered like dead men, utterly beaten from their labors, trying to pitch tents so they could crawl in to sleep.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
