Whole: meaning, definitions and examples

🌟

Add to dictionary

whole

[hoʊl ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

complete

comprising the full quantity, extent, duration, etc., not broken, damaged, or diminished, complete; entire, full; total, unimpaired or undiminished; free of injury or harm, intact

Synonyms

complete, entire, full, intact, total.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
whole	When referring to something in its entirety, often in a literal sense. Suitable for everyday language. He ate the whole pizza by himself. I spent the whole day at the beach.
complete	When referring to something that has all its parts or is finished. Often used in formal or academic contexts. Please complete the form and return it by mail. The project is complete and ready for review.
entire	When emphasizing the fullness or whole of something, often used for emphasis or in formal settings. She read the entire book in one night. The entire country was celebrating the victory.
total	Referring to the sum or entirety, especially when calculating or measuring something. The total cost of the trip was much higher than expected. The total number of attendees reached 500.
full	When something has no more space or is filled to capacity. Can also refer to thoroughness. The room was full of people. Please provide a full report on the incident.
intact	When something remains whole and undamaged. Often used in contexts referring to preservation or wholeness despite conditions. The vase remained intact despite the earthquake. After the accident, it was a relief to find him intact.

Examples of usage

He ate the whole pie by himself.
The whole town came out to support the team.
She was feeling whole again after the breakup.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

entirety

entirety of something; all of something

Synonyms

aggregate, entirety, sum, totality.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
whole	Use 'whole' to indicate something complete or not divided into parts. This word is often used in everyday conversations. She ate the whole cake by herself. I read the whole book in one day.
entirety	Use 'entirety' to emphasize the completeness or wholeness of something. It is often used to stress that nothing is left out. She watched the movie in its entirety without taking a break. You need to understand the plan in its entirety before making a decision.
totality	Use 'totality' in formal contexts to convey the idea of the whole amount or extent of something. It is often used in academic or philosophical discussions. The totality of the evidence points towards his innocence. The totality of the circumstances must be considered.
sum	Use 'sum' to refer specifically to the result of adding numbers, or metaphorically to the total of different parts. It's often used in mathematics and everyday speech. The sum of 5 and 3 is 8. The sum of their efforts resulted in a successful project.
aggregate	Use 'aggregate' in formal or technical contexts to describe a total amount composed of different parts. It is often used in mathematics, statistics, and economics. The aggregate score of the two teams was 89 points. We need to aggregate the data from different sources.

Examples of usage

The whole of the book is dedicated to his travels.
She couldn't believe the whole of the story.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The term 'whole' comes from the Old English word 'hal', meaning healthy or uninjured.
Over time, the meaning evolved to represent completeness, indicating that nothing is missing.
Related words like 'wholesome' include the root suggesting good health and entirety.

Philosophy

Philosophers often discuss the concept of wholeness in relation to existence and purpose.
In Gestalt psychology, the idea is that the mind perceives objects as complete forms rather than just a collection of parts.
Holism is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of the whole over its individual parts.

Mathematics

In mathematics, 'whole numbers' refer to non-negative integers, including zero, which illustrates the idea of completeness in counting.
The concept of wholes and parts is crucial in set theory, where a whole set is made of individual elements.
There is a mathematical principle called 'whole-part relationship' showing how components create a complete structure.

Cultural Practices

Many cultures have rituals focused on the idea of wholeness, such as ceremonies that celebrate completeness in life cycles.
In cooking, serving whole foods (like vegetables and grains) is considered healthier compared to processed ones.
The phrase 'hole in one' in golf metaphorically reflects achieving a complete success in one attempt.

Wellness

'Wholeness' is often discussed in mind-body practices, emphasizing the need for balance between mental and physical health.
In many wellness teachings, achieving wholeness involves self-acceptance and integration of all aspects of oneself.
Activities like yoga and meditation are considered ways to support feeling whole and connected.

Translations

Translations of the word "whole" in other languages:

🇵🇹 inteiro

🇮🇳 पूरा (poora)

🇩🇪 ganz

🇮🇩 seluruh

🇺🇦 цілий

🇵🇱 cały

🇯🇵 全体 (zentai)

🇫🇷 entier

🇪🇸 entero

🇹🇷 tam

🇰🇷 전체 (jeonche)

🇸🇦 كامل (kamel)

🇨🇿 celý

🇸🇰 celý

🇨🇳 整体 (zhěngtǐ)

🇸🇮 celoten

🇮🇸 heill

🇰🇿 бүтін

🇬🇪 მთლიანი (mt'liani)

🇦🇿 bütöv

🇲🇽 entero

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #194, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.

...
191 subject
192 find
193 amount
194 whole
195 among
196 government
197 often
...