Whole: meaning, definitions and examples

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.