a complete new meaning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a complete new meaning" is not correct in standard English; it should be "a completely new meaning." You can use it when discussing how something has changed or evolved to have a different interpretation or significance.
Example: "The artist's latest work gives a completely new meaning to the concept of beauty."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

She writes that having this amazing reminder of their relationship "took on a complete new meaning when I lost Will forever".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The instruction 'keep lane' refers to a completely new meaning.

Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

Then it was a complete new life.

The New York Times - Sports

It also helps that the song takes on a whole new meaning after you complete the game.

Huffington Post

It's giving a whole new meaning to New Jersey tourism".

The New York Times - Travel

"The only difference," the judge wrote, is that "civil marriage will now take on a new meaning that reflects a more complete understanding of equal protection of the law".

The New York Times

The only difference is civil marriage will now take on a new meaning that reflects a more complete understanding of equal protection of the law".

Huffington Post

Then time over winter took on a new meaning.

The New York Times

Counterculture took on a whole new meaning.

The New York Times

Gives pop art a whole new meaning.

Independent

The Shampoo Diet has a whole new meaning now.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to convey that something has acquired an entirely new significance, prefer the phrasing "a completely new meaning" or "an entirely new meaning" for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid placing the adjective "complete" directly before "new" when you mean "completely new". The adverb "completely" correctly modifies the adjective "new."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a complete new meaning" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an object or complement within a sentence. However, it is grammatically incorrect, which Ludwig AI highlights. The correct form would use an adverb to modify "new."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a complete new meaning" aims to convey that something has gained an entirely different interpretation. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically incorrect. The proper form is "a completely new meaning" or alternatives like "a totally new meaning" or "a whole new meaning". While the intention is clear, ensuring grammatical accuracy enhances clarity and credibility, especially in formal writing. Usage of the incorrect form is rare, with examples scattered across news media and scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a completely new meaning

Corrects the original phrase by placing the adverb "completely" in the appropriate position.

an entirely new meaning

Replaces "complete" with "entirely", emphasizing the totality of the new meaning.

a totally new meaning

Substitutes "complete" with "totally", conveying a similar sense of the new meaning being absolute.

an utterly new meaning

Uses "utterly" to underscore the thorough and absolute nature of the new meaning.

a whole new meaning

Replaces "complete" with "whole", indicating that the meaning is entirely new and comprehensive.

a radically new meaning

Highlights the transformative nature of the new meaning by using "radically".

a fresh new meaning

Uses "fresh" instead of "complete", highlighting the novelty and originality of the new meaning.

a brand new meaning

Emphasizes the newness by using "brand new" in place of "complete".

a strikingly new meaning

Focuses on how noticeable and remarkable the new meaning is.

a significantly new meaning

Emphasizes that the new meaning is notably different and important.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something has a new meaning?

The correct way to say something has a new meaning is to use the phrase "a completely new meaning" or "an entirely new meaning". The original query, "a complete new meaning", is grammatically incorrect.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a complete new meaning"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The proper phrasing is "a completely new meaning" or "an entirely new meaning". The adverb "completely" or "entirely" should modify the adjective "new".

What alternatives can I use instead of "a complete new meaning"?

You can use alternatives such as "a totally new meaning", "a whole new meaning", or "an utterly new meaning", which are all grammatically sound and convey a similar idea.

How does "a completely new meaning" differ from "a whole new meaning"?

"A completely new meaning" emphasizes the absolute novelty of the meaning, while "a whole new meaning" suggests a comprehensive and entire shift in understanding. Both are correct, but the nuance differs slightly.