wholly

[ hoh-lee, hohl-lee ]

adverb

1. entirely; totally; altogether; quite.
2. to the whole amount, extent, etc.
3. so as to comprise or involve all.

wholly

/ ˈhəʊllɪ /

adverb

1. completely, totally, or entirely
2. without exception; exclusively

Word History and Origins

Origin of wholly¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, wholly is from the Middle English word holliche. See whole, -ly

Example Sentences

“Pete Hegseth is wholly unqualified to head the Department of Defense and hold the lives of our troops in his hands — period,” Paul Eaton, a former U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Under the plan, 115 loss-making branches wholly owned by the Post Office could be closed.

From BBC

The fact of the matter is this: Since the end of the draft under Richard Nixon, the U.S. military has been a wholly volunteer organization from top to bottom.

From Salon

Let’s stop right here in our celebration of Veterans Day and discuss this wholly invented and utterly bogus issue of the “woke” military.

From Salon

Also recognizing the intransigence of prejudice in American society decades later, in 1855, and refusing to wait on external support alone, Douglass published a statement in all-caps: “Our elevation as a race is almost wholly dependent on our own exertions. If we are ever elevated, our elevation will be accomplished through our own instrumentality.”

From Salon

Related Words

• altogether
• completely
• entirely
• fully
• perfectly
• quite
• thoroughly
• totally
• utterly