1
: to the full or entire extent : completely
a wholly owned subsidiary
2
: to the exclusion of other things : solely
a book dealing wholly with herbs
Examples of wholly in a Sentence
She is wholly devoted to her children.
An infant is wholly dependent on its mother.
The claim is wholly without merit.
Recent Examples on the Web
Fox Entertainment Studios will produce, with Fox Entertainment wholly owning the new series.
—
Joe Otterson, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
One of my favorite books about the Constitution, by historian Michael Kammen, argues the paradox of Americans’ relationship to the Constitution is that people appear to be so wholly wedded to a document that so few have ever read for themselves.
—Big Think, 10 Oct. 2025
Stanfield co-stars as Grofield, his quick-thinking partner-in-crime who’s part actor, part hustler, and wholly unpredictable.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
Politics in football isn’t a wholly new phenomenon.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wholly
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Joe Otterson, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
One of my favorite books about the Constitution, by historian Michael Kammen, argues the paradox of Americans’ relationship to the Constitution is that people appear to be so wholly wedded to a document that so few have ever read for themselves.
—Big Think, 10 Oct. 2025
Stanfield co-stars as Grofield, his quick-thinking partner-in-crime who’s part actor, part hustler, and wholly unpredictable.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
Politics in football isn’t a wholly new phenomenon.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wholly
Cite this Entry
“Wholly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wholly. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wholly
adverb
whol·ly
ˈhōl-(l)ē 
1
: to the full or entire extent : completely
a wholly different view
2
: to the exclusion of other things : solely
a book devoted wholly to sports cars
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share