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whole
/hoʊl/
entire or complete
She ate the whole pizza by herself.
She ate the entire pizza without sharing.
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.
Related Phrases
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
rootEnglish Dictionary