entirely
Americanadverb
-
wholly or fully; completely or unreservedly.
I am not entirely satisfied with the architect's design.
- Synonyms:
- thoroughly, totally
-
solely or exclusively.
adverb
-
without reservation or exception; wholly; completely
-
solely or exclusively; only
Etymology
Origin of entirely
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at entire, -ly
Explanation
A white shirt that becomes covered entirely with mud is so completely and totally cloaked that no white will show through. Likewise, if your carelessness is entirely to blame for the muddied shirt, it was your fault and no one else's. The word entirely describes the idea of completeness and wholeness. For instance, someone could be entirely focused on a book they're reading, showing that it has their full attention. A room cleaned entirely has no dust or clutter anywhere, and a story told entirely includes every detail. Something done entirely by one person has been wholly completed by that one person.
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.
He added in a report published on its website: "AI will change how work is done across industries, impacting some jobs, transforming thers and creating entirely new roles that we're only beginning to imagine."
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
The prosecution said that is "an entirely bogus claim", adding that he did it for money and to have a criminal conviction for theft in Iran "fixed".
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
The advanced techniques appear almost entirely in decorated pottery, while everyday plain vessels continued to be made with simpler local methods.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
The unfussy, DIY aesthetic is immediately apparent, with an exterior clad entirely in plywood sheeting that has been painted and repainted several times over the decades.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Max had never been the hugging type, effectively dodging my mom’s, but this man next to me was an entirely different Max.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
