whole

/hoʊl/
adjectivenounBeginner
general

Entire or complete in every respect; not divided or separated.

The whole team celebrated their victory.

The entire team celebrated their victory.

💡

Can be used as an adjective or noun.

general

A complete unit or entity.

The whole story is fascinating.

The entire story is fascinating.

💡

Often used to emphasize completeness.

Collocations

whole pointthe main idea or purposewhole lota large amount or numberwhole worldeverywhere or everyone

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

the whole nine yardsidiom
everything possible or to the fullest extent
wholeheartedlyadverb
with complete sincerity or enthusiasm

💡Pro Tip

Adjective vs. Noun

'Whole' can function as both an adjective (e.g., 'whole apple') and a noun (e.g., 'the whole story').

Gold Rule

Emphasis on Completeness

Use 'whole' to emphasize that something is complete or undivided, often contrasting with parts or fragments.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'hole', from Old English 'hāl', meaning 'healthy' or 'uninjured', later evolving to mean 'complete' or 'entire'.

📝Usage Notes

Can be used as an adjective (e.g., 'whole pizza') or a noun (e.g., 'the whole story'). Often used to emphasize completeness or unity.

Word Breakdown

whole
complete or entire
root
English Dictionary