wholly
/ˈhoʊ.li/completely or entirely; without exception or reservation
The team worked wholly on the project for three months.
The team dedicated all their time and effort to the project without any distractions.
He was wholly committed to his beliefs.
He was entirely devoted to his beliefs without any doubt or hesitation.
Often used to emphasize totality or completeness in a formal or emphatic context.
Collocations
Antonyms
💡Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Use
Use 'wholly' in formal writing or speech to emphasize totality. In informal contexts, synonyms like 'completely' or 'totally' are more common.
⚡Gold Rule
Avoid Redundancy
Do not use 'wholly' with words that already imply totality, such as 'completely' or 'entirely' (e.g., 'wholly completely' is redundant).
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'holy' (meaning 'entire, complete'), from Old English 'halig' (holy), influenced by Old Norse 'heill' (whole). The modern sense of 'completely' emerged in the 16th century.
📝Usage Notes
Often used in formal or emphatic contexts to emphasize totality. Can be used as an adverb or adjective, though the adverbial use is more common.