Meaning of whole in English
Table of contents
Classifying Adjective
wholeDefinitions
1. exhibiting or restored to vigorous good healthExamples
- « hale and hearty »
- « whole in mind and body »
- « a whole person again »
Synonyms
Adverb
wholeDefinitions
1. to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly')Examples
- « he was wholly convinced »
- « entirely satisfied with the meal »
- « it was completely different from what we expected »
- « was completely at fault »
- « a total »
Antonyms
Noun
wholeDefinitions
1. all of something including all its component elements or partsExamples
- « Europe considered as a whole »
- « the whole of American literature »
- 2. an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity
Examples
- « how big is that part compared to the whole? »
- « the team is a unit »
Derived terms
Qualitative Adjective
wholeEtymology
Old English hāl, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch heel and German heil, also to hail. The spelling with wh- (reflecting a dialect pronunciation with w-) first appeared in the 15th centuryDefinitions
1. including all components without exceptionExamples
- « being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration »
- « complete »
- « gave his whole attention »
- « a whole wardrobe for the tropics »
- « the whole hog »
- « a whole week »
- « the baby cried the whole trip hom »
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 2. (of siblings) having the same parents
Examples
- « whole brothers and sisters »
Antonyms
Famous quotes
- « The whole romantic part of my life was a wipeout. I didn't even own a belt. » Paul Lynde
- « And then, build a bustling wonderful city of the 21st century, with a restoration of a spectacular skyline, which Manhattan, of course, needs. So, that is really the design as a whole. » Daniel Libeskind
- « Bader's philosophy was my philosophy. His whole attitude to life was mine. » Kenneth More
- « In religion as in politics it so happens that we have less charity for those who believe half our creed, than for those who deny the whole of it. » Charles Caleb Colton
- « I think the whole system of education would change if I were in charge and had the ability to make changes. I don't think I would keep Princeton exactly being Princeton. » Wallace Shawn