wholly

[hoh-lee, hohl-lee]

adverb

1. entirely; totally; altogether; quite.

2. to the whole amount, extent, etc.

3. so as to comprise or involve all.

wholly

/ ˈhəʊllɪ /

adverb

1. completely, totally, or entirely

2. without exception; exclusively

Word History and Origins

Origin of wholly¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, wholly is from the Middle English word holliche. See whole, -ly

Example Sentences

A mental health assessment carried out six days before the Southport knife attacks, which found the killer posed no risk to others, was "wholly inappropriate and wrong", a public inquiry has heard.

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Out of Gaza's 1,244 mosques, 1,160 were partly or wholly destroyed, according to Hamas's media office in the Palestinian territory.

Read more on Barron's

The budget plan at issue, which imposes ever-so-minor checks on the future rate of increase of some spending, is wholly inadequate to the task of reining in France’s out-of-control welfare state.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told me: "This is wholly contrary to what the prime minister has been saying – which is that all of the evidence submitted related to the 2021-2023 period."

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Keaton is not just playing a mother, she’s embodying what it means to be a parent, showing what it looks like to love wholly, even with flaws.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• altogether 
• completely 
• entirely 
• fully 
• perfectly 
• quite 
• thoroughly 
• totally 
• utterly