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whole

whole

484 1.0
All of something seen as one unit
  • noun
  • /hoʊl/
translation icon : totalidad
  • But taken as a whole, I was wrong to have thought so highly of you.
  • taken as a whole
  • population as a whole
  • ecosystem as a whole

Examples

  • You're now entering the most secure location in the whole of England.

  • The committee as a whole included other individuals who would play a key role in the NHS.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I have no idea how this whole thing works.

  • You know you can live your whole life in this.

  • On the whole, what we do is necessary.

  • The needs of the cohort as a whole are different from the individual needs of college students.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Only if society is better off as a whole does favoring inequality seem fair.

    Academic text (2011)
  • On the whole, I wish I'd stayed in Tunbridge Wells.

  • The whole cake was eaten by the children at the party.

  • She loves to read the whole book in one sitting.

Synonyms

all
vswhole
1.0

Everything in a group or the whole amount of something

means a single complete unit made up of parts instead of individuals
everything
vswhole
1.0

All the things or all that someone has

emphasizes one complete unit made of parts rather than listing items
entirety
vswhole
68 4.1

The whole of something that includes every part

is the more general and flexible expression used in everyday contexts
totality
vswhole
32 6.5

All the parts of something considered together

focuses on a single complete unit rather than only amount or extent
whole shebang
vswhole
  • Informal
7 8.0

Everything that is part of something

is the straightforward term for a complete unit rather than this casual idiom
the whole enchilada
vswhole
  • Informal
4 7.0

Everything included in a deal or plan

is the regular single-unit expression, not a food-based idiom
whole kit and caboodle
vswhole
  • Informal
4 6.7

All the things and people connected with something

is the plain single-unit idea rather than a colorful phrase for a set
whole works
vswhole
  • Informal
2 3.9

Everything included, for example all parts or options

is the general total unit, not limited to possible options alone
whole ball of wax
vswhole
  • Informal
2 7.1

All the parts and activities of a project or situation

is the neutral term for one complete unit rather than this colorful phrase
entireness
vswhole
7.1

A state of being whole and complete

is the everyday broader way to refer to a complete unit
whole kit and boodle
vswhole
  • Informal
6.7

All the things in a group or set

is the neutral single-unit term rather than an idiomatic phrase for a set

Antonyms

1.0

A piece of something that, with others, makes a whole

501 3.0

A part of something that is separate from the whole, like a piece of an orange

192 3.4

A very small part of something

Idioms

240 3.5

Considering all parts together

33 3.3

In general, something is true when you think about everything

4 7.0

Everything included in a deal or plan

4 6.7

All the things and people connected with something

2 7.1

All the parts and activities of a project or situation

from whole cloth
  • Informal
1 9.1

Completely made up with no real facts

the whole bakery
  • Informal
9.9

To have everything you want and every advantage

6.7

All the things in a group or set

Compounds

49 1.6

All parts and rooms of a house taken together as one

23 2.7

A grain that still has all its natural parts, like the outer layer and soft inside

22 2.8

Made from wheat that keeps all parts of the grain, like bran and germ

11 1.0

Milk that still has its natural fat, about three percent

whole shebang
  • Informal
7 8.0

Everything that is part of something

whole kit
  • Informal
3 5.2

All the things you need for an activity, like tools and supplies

A type of bread made from the whole wheat grain that is denser and healthier than white bread

whole number
  • Specialized
3 2.1

A number with no fraction and no decimal, such as 0, 1, or -3

Powder made from whole wheat used for baking bread

whole blood
  • Specialized
2 3.9

Blood taken from the body that still has all its cells and clotting parts

whole works
  • Informal
2 3.9

Everything included, for example all parts or options

1 7.7

All the things that are part of a situation

whole note
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A musical note that lasts for four beats in common time

whole caboodle
  • Informal
1 7.7

All the things or people involved

whole life insurance
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A plan that pays a fixed amount when you die and has payments that stay the same for life

whole step
  • Specialized
1 5.4

The distance between two notes that are two piano keys apart

whole tone
  • Specialized
1 6.6

An interval of two semitones used in many musical scales

7.0

A relation where a smaller part belongs to a larger whole, like a wheel and a car

Powder made by grinding whole wheat grain including the bran

whole gale
  • Specialized
9.1

A very strong wind blowing at about 100 kilometres an hour

whole name
  • Specialized
9.0

The name of the whole thing that parts belong to, like 'tree' for branches

7.5

A link showing how a thing is made of smaller pieces

whole rest
  • Specialized
4.0

A silent part in music that usually lasts four beats

whole-souled
  • Literature
8.9

To give strong, honest support with all your heart and energy

6.2

A way of teaching reading that has learners memorize whole printed words and their sounds

How Complete

entirety
68 4.1
whole
484 1.0
section
1.0
part
1.0

Surface Forms

whole singular
wholes plural

Etymology

Whole as a noun comes from old English hāl meaning 'complete' or 'entire', and it means all of something as one unit. That's why we say 'the whole' to mean the entire thing made of all its parts.