wholly

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈhoʊ.li/ UK /ˈhəʊ.li/ See IPA manual

Homophones

holy /ˈhoʊli/

Minimal pairs

Sounds like holly /ɑ/ vs /oʊ/

Freq #17702

Meanings

1

adv
Completely and entirely; to the fullest extent.

We were wholly convinced by their explanation.
2

adv
Only and solely; in no other way.

The decision rests wholly with the committee.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · completely and entirely; to... completely entirely totally altogether

2 adv · only and solely; in no... exclusively

More solely

Opposites

partly

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

wholly convinced
Completely certain that something is true or correct.

Adverb + adjective

Etymology

From Middle English holly, holeliche, holliche (also as halely, hallich, etc.), equivalent to whole + -ly. Doublet of holy.

holly Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# wholly

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈhoʊ.li/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈhəʊ.li/
**Frequency rank:** 17702

## Meanings
1. Completely and entirely; to the fullest extent.
2. Only and solely; in no other way.

## Examples
- We were wholly convinced by their explanation.
- The decision rests wholly with the committee.

## Synonyms
- completely
- solely
- totally

## Antonyms
- partly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: holly

## Etymology
From Middle English holly, holeliche, holliche (also as halely, hallich, etc.), equivalent to whole + -ly. Doublet of holy.

## AI Etymology
Wholly is from Middle English holly, holeliche, holliche (also as halely, hallich, etc.), equivalent to whole + -ly. Doublet of holy. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adverbial form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include holly (Middle English). Current senses include completely and entirely; to the fullest extent and only and solely; in no other way.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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