Whole — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun adverb /ˈhōl/

Meaning & Definition of Whole

Whole (adjective)

  1. free of wound or injury, unhurt
  2. recovered from a wound or injury, restored
  3. being healed

Whole (noun)

  1. a complete amount or sum, a number, aggregate, or totality lacking no part, member, or element
  2. something constituting a complex unity, a coherent system or organization of parts fitting or working together as one

Whole (adverb)

  1. wholly, entirely
  2. as a complete entity

Whole (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not divided or scattered among several areas of interest or concern

    "you'll need to put your whole effort into this project"

    similar: all, concentrated, entire, exclusive, focused, undivided
    related: absolute, complete, full, lump, teetotal, thorough, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unqualified, utter, comprehensive, intact, integral, perfect, unbroken
    opposite: diffuse, divided, scattered
    near: deficient, fragmental, fragmentary, halfway, incomplete, partial

  2. enjoying health and vigor

    "whole and happy again after months of recuperation"

    similar: able-bodied, bouncing, fit, hale, healthy, hearty, robust, sound, well, well-conditioned, wholesome, in fine fettle, in shape, in the pink
    related: hard, hardy, iron, lusty, rugged, stalwart, strong, sturdy, tough, ambulatory, nondisabled, uncrippled, active, agile, chipper, lively, sprightful, sprightly, spry, vigorous, vital, blooming, clean-cut, flourishing, flush, prospering, thriving, all right, good, right
    opposite: ailing, diseased, ill, sick, unfit, unhealthy, unsound, unwell
    near: decrepit, enfeebled, feeble, infirm, run-down, sickened, sickly, weak, weakened, weakly, worn-out, debilitated, differently abled, disabled, incapacitated, delicate, fragile, frail, emaciated, gaunt, haggard, malnourished, undernourished, afflicted, troubled, bad, poorly

  3. not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it

    "the puzzle isn't quite whole, but close enough"

    similar: compleat, complete, comprehensive, entire, full, grand, intact, integral, perfect, plenary, total
    related: unabridged, uncut, undiminished, all-out, exhaustive, extensive, maximal, full-blooded, full-blown, full-bore, full-fledged, full-on, full-out, full-scale
    opposite: imperfect, incomplete, partial
    near: abbreviated, abridged, cut, diminished, reduced

Whole (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a complete amount of something

    "the landlord eventually refunded the whole of our deposit"

    similar: aggregate, full, sum, summation, sum total, total, totality, grand total, the whole bit, the whole kit and caboodle, the whole nine yards, the whole shebang
    related: gross, completeness, comprehensiveness, cumulativeness, entirety, bulk, lion's share, mass, enchilada, schmear
    near: net

Related Entry: Whole number (noun)

Whole number is a different word from Whole. The synonyms below are for whole number, not for whole.

  1. a character used to represent a mathematical value

    "since percentages have been rounded off to whole numbers, the total will not be exactly equal to 100%"

    similar: digit, figure, integer, number, numeral, numeric
    related: decimal, fraction, cipher, symbol

Related Entry: Whole-souled (adjective)

Whole-souled is a different word from Whole. The synonyms below are for whole-souled, not for whole.

  1. characterized by unqualified enthusiasm

    "expressed their whole-souled commitment to the cause of peace"

    similar: hearty, wholehearted
    related: single-minded, ardent, avid, eager, enthusiastic, excited, exuberant, fervent, gung ho, impassioned, keen, mettlesome, passionate, raring, vehement, warm, zealous, animated, energetic, lively, spirited, vigorous, absolute, bona fide, earnest, genuine, heartfelt, sincere, unaffected, undisguised, unequivocal, unfeigned, unrestrained
    opposite: grudging, halfhearted, lukewarm, tepid
    near: apathetic, disinterested, dispassionate, indifferent, uninterested, lackadaisical, listless, perfunctory, spiritless, uneager, unenthusiastic, unexcited, equivocal, hesitant, qualified, tentative, uncertain, delayed, dilatory, doubtful, hedging, hesitating, forced, reluctant, resistant, reticent, unwilling

Related Entry: Whole numbers (noun)

Whole numbers is a different word from Whole. The synonyms below are for whole numbers, not for whole.

  1. a character used to represent a mathematical value

    "since percentages have been rounded off to whole numbers, the total will not be exactly equal to 100%"

    similar: digits, figures, integers, numbers, numerals, numerics
    related: decimals, fractions, ciphers, symbols

Related Entry: In whole (phrase)

In whole is a different word from Whole. The synonyms below are for in whole, not for whole.

  1. to a full extent or degree

    "The questionnaire should be completed in whole."

    similar: all, all of, all over, altogether, clean, completely, dead, enough, entire, entirely, even, exactly, fast, flat, full, fully, heartily, out, perfectly, plumb (chiefly dialect), quite, soundly, thoroughly, through and through, totally, utterly, well, wholly, wide, all the way, at length, down to the ground, for fair, to bits, to pieces, to the hilt, to the max
    related: absolutely, categorically, cold, downright, hands down, plain, stone, stone-cold, unqualifiedly, basically, by and large, chiefly, generally, largely, mainly, more or less, mostly, overall, predominantly, predominately, primarily, principally, substantially, abundantly, copiously, generously, greatly
    opposite: half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partly
    near: barely, hardly, just, kind of, marginally, minimally, scarcely, slightly, superficially, approximately, roughly, somewhat

Related Entry: On the whole (phrase)

On the whole is a different word from Whole. The synonyms below are for on the whole, not for whole.

  1. for the most part

    "On the whole I like seafood, but I won't eat oysters."

    similar: altogether, basically, by and large, chiefly, generally, largely, mainly, mostly, overall, predominantly, primarily, principally, substantially, in general
    related: about, more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, some, virtually, well-nigh, approximately, broadly, plus or minus, roughly, commonly, frequently, generally, normally, ordinarily, typically, usually, incompletely, partially, partly, rather, somewhat
    near: completely, entirely, fully, perfectly, thoroughly, totally, wholly, barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely, absolutely, categorically, unqualifiedly

  2. according to the usual course of things

    "On the whole it begins getting dark earlier as winter approaches."

    similar: commonly, generally, natch (slang), naturally, normally, ordinarily, typically, usually, as a rule, needless to say, of course
    related: customarily, habitually, regularly, routinely, familiarly, conventionally, traditionally
    opposite: abnormally, atypically, extraordinarily, uncommonly, untypically, unusually
    near: funnily, oddly, peculiarly, queerly, strangely, weirdly, anomalously, irregularly, radically

Related Entry: The whole bit (phrase)

The whole bit is a different word from Whole. The synonyms below are for the whole bit, not for whole.

  1. a complete amount of something

    "They paid for the vacation up front—the airfare, the hotel, the whole bit."

    similar: aggregate, full, sum, summation, sum total, total, totality, whole, grand total, the whole kit and caboodle, the whole nine yards, the whole shebang
    related: gross, completeness, comprehensiveness, cumulativeness, entirety, bulk, lion's share, mass, enchilada, schmear
    near: net

Related Entry: The whole kit and caboodle (phrase)

The whole kit and caboodle is a different word from Whole. The synonyms below are for the whole kit and caboodle, not for whole.

  1. a number of things considered as a unit

    "They brought the whole kit and caboodle to the picnic lunch."

    similar: array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, battery, block, bunch, clot, clump, cluster, clutch, collection, constellation, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, parcel, passel, set, suite
    related: accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomeration, agglomeration, assortment, hodgepodge, jumble, miscellany, mixture, odds and ends, sundries, variety, cycle, run, series, suit
    near: entity, item, single, unit

  2. a usually small number of persons considered as a unit

    "The whole kit and caboodle showed up to the retirement party."

    similar: array, band, batch, battery, body, boodle, bunch, cluster, clutch, consort, constellation, crop, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, parcel, party, passel
    related: assembly, collective, congregation, gathering, muster, organization, circle, clan, clique, coterie, fellowship, gang, ring, round, set, faction, guild, order, school, sect, brigade, crew, outfit, phalanx, platoon, posse, task force, team, alliance, bloc, coalition, confederacy, confederation, federation, league, union, battalion, squadron, bevy, brood, covey
    near: individual, single

  3. a complete amount of something

    "It was all there, the whole kit and caboodle."

    similar: aggregate, full, sum, summation, sum total, total, totality, whole, grand total, the whole bit, the whole nine yards, the whole shebang
    related: gross, completeness, comprehensiveness, cumulativeness, entirety, bulk, lion's share, mass, enchilada, schmear
    near: net

Related Entry: The whole nine yards (phrase)

The whole nine yards is a different word from Whole. The synonyms below are for the whole nine yards, not for whole.

  1. a complete amount of something

    "The sales agent explained that the big price tag of the trip was actually a deal because it covered the whole nine yards."

    similar: aggregate, full, sum, summation, sum total, total, totality, whole, grand total, the whole bit, the whole kit and caboodle, the whole shebang
    related: gross, completeness, comprehensiveness, cumulativeness, entirety, bulk, lion's share, mass, enchilada, schmear
    near: net

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Whole

The most common words with a similar meaning to Whole:

all, concentrated, entire, exclusive, focused, undivided, able-bodied, bouncing, fit, hale, healthy, hearty, robust, sound, well, well-conditioned, wholesome, compleat, complete, comprehensive, full, grand, intact, integral, perfect, plenary, total, in fine fettle, in shape, in the pink, aggregate, sum, summation, sum total, totality, grand total, the whole bit, the whole kit and caboodle, the whole nine yards, the whole shebang

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Whole

Words with the opposite meaning of Whole:

diffuse, divided, scattered, ailing, diseased, ill, sick, unfit, unhealthy, unsound, unwell, imperfect, incomplete, partial

Related Words for Whole

absolute, lump, teetotal, thorough, unadulterated, unalloyed, unqualified, utter, unbroken, hard, hardy, iron, lusty, rugged, stalwart, strong, sturdy, tough, ambulatory, nondisabled, uncrippled, active, agile, chipper, lively, sprightful, sprightly, spry, vigorous, vital

Near Antonyms of Whole

deficient, fragmental, fragmentary, halfway, decrepit, enfeebled, feeble, infirm, run-down, sickened, sickly, weak, weakened, weakly, worn-out, debilitated, differently abled, disabled, incapacitated, delicate, fragile, frail, emaciated, gaunt, haggard, malnourished, undernourished, afflicted, troubled, bad

Word Forms of Whole

Derived words: wholeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Whole

Middle English hool healthy, unhurt, entire, from Old English hāl; akin to Old High German heil healthy, unhurt, Old Norse heill, Old Church Slavic cělŭ

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Whole

Words & Phrases Containing Whole

whole cloth, whole food, whole gale, whole grain, whole-hog, whole hog

Frequently Asked Questions about Whole

What does "Whole" mean?

"Whole" means free of wound or injury, unhurt. As an an adjective, a noun and an adverb, it is defined as: free of wound or injury, unhurt. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Whole"?

Other words for "Whole" include all, concentrated, entire, exclusive, focused, undivided, able-bodied and bouncing. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Whole" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Whole"?

There are 103 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Whole". Common alternatives include all, concentrated, entire, exclusive, focused, undivided, able-bodied, bouncing, fit and hale.

What is the opposite of "Whole"?

Antonyms of "Whole" include diffuse, divided, scattered, ailing, diseased, ill, sick and unfit. Near antonyms include deficient, fragmental, fragmentary and halfway.

How do you use "Whole" in a sentence?

Examples of "Whole" in a sentence: "you'll need to put your whole effort into this project"; "whole and happy again after months of recuperation"; "the puzzle isn't quite whole, but close enough".

Is "Whole" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Whole" can be used as an adjective, a noun and an adverb, depending on the context.

Is "Whole" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Whole" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Whole"?

"Whole" is pronounced /ˈhōl/.