entirely

USAGE SUMMARY

'entirely' is a perfectly acceptable and common word in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the entirety or completeness of something. For example, "I am entirely convinced of the importance of this project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not entirely.

The New York Times

The proposal does not go as far as banning EU migrants access to income-related benefits entirely for the first year in the UK, as had previously been suggested.

The Guardian

This isn't entirely true.

The Economist

I have been involved in a few political crises in my time and have always come out on top by bullying people, shouting a lot and being entirely economical with the truth.

The Guardian - Books

It would be far-fetched to describe the US and Britain's long-term relationship with Saudi Arabia as a love affair, although elements of romance, blind infatuation and lustful mutual gratification have never been entirely absent.

The Guardian

One was the sense, expressed by poet, actor and playwright Warsama, that the current media conversation was almost entirely one way.

The Guardian

A vote today between the status quo and leaving would be an entirely false choice".

The Guardian

In November 2011 Gloucestershire library users won a high court judicial review against Gloucestershire County Council's (GCC's) plans to close 10 static libraries and all mobile libraries, and reduce opening hours and services at many more, with Judge McKenna quashing the council's plans entirely.

The Guardian - Books

"It is entirely in the eye of the beholder".

The Guardian - Arts

I blame you for my resulting square eyes but it was entirely worth it ;-) Anyway, my question is about music.

The Guardian

First-round opponent: [15] Kevin Anderson (RSA) Smyczek skipped the European clay-court season entirely, opting to stay in the US and play some matches on the Har-Tru Challenger circuit in the southern US.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "entirely" to emphasize that something is complete and without exception. For instance, "The project is entirely dependent on funding."

Common error

Avoid using "entirely" when the situation is not fully complete or exclusive. Instead of saying "I entirely agree with some points", opt for "I largely agree with some points" to reflect partial agreement.

Linguistic Context

Entirely functions as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to express the complete or total extent of an action or quality. Ludwig shows it used to emphasize that something is done fully or exclusively.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "entirely" functions as an adverb to emphasize the completeness or exclusivity of an action or state. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. While synonyms like "completely" and "wholly" exist, "entirely" adds a nuanced emphasis on totality. When writing, ensure "entirely" is used when something is fully complete and without exceptions to avoid misrepresentation. Ludwig's analysis confirms its versatility and importance in expressing thoroughness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely

Direct synonym, indicating a state of being whole or finished.

wholly

Another synonym emphasizing completeness or totality.

totally

Similar to "completely" and "wholly", stressing the full extent.

altogether

Implies a collective or comprehensive sense of "entirely".

exclusively

Focuses on the aspect of being the only one, rather than completeness.

solely

Similar to "exclusively", highlighting that something is the only factor or element.

utterly

Emphasizes the intensity of the state or action.

fully

Indicates that something is to the greatest extent or degree.

perfectly

Suggests something is flawlessly or completely done.

absolutely

Emphasizes the certainty and completeness of something.

FAQs

How can I use "entirely" in a sentence?

You can use "entirely" to emphasize the completeness of an action or state. For example, "The success of the mission is "entirely dependent on the weather"" or "I am "entirely convinced" of his innocence".

What are some alternatives to "entirely"?

Alternatives to "entirely" include "completely", "wholly", "totally", and "altogether". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "entirely" and "completely"?

While "entirely" and "completely" are often interchangeable, "entirely" can sometimes imply a sense of exclusivity or being separate from other things, while "completely" focuses more on the thoroughness or fullness of something.

When is it inappropriate to use "entirely"?

Avoid using "entirely" when describing something that is only partially true or complete. Using "largely", "mostly", or "partially" would be more accurate in such cases.