altogether

1 of 2

adverb

al·​to·​geth·​er ˌȯl-tə-ˈge-t͟hər How to pronounce altogether (audio)
1
: wholly, completely
an altogether different problem
stopped raining altogether
2
: in all : all told
spent a hundred dollars altogether
3
: on the whole
Altogether their efforts were successful.

altogether

2 of 2

noun

informal
: nude
used with the
posed in the altogether

Examples of altogether in a Sentence

Adverb They had an altogether new idea. If we don't do something now, the forests may disappear altogether. It's best to avoid the situation altogether. Altogether, their efforts were successful. Noun had never posed in the altogether for a photographer before
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adverb
Health equity efforts are set to take a huge step back or, more optimistically, change form altogether in the new political environment. Sachin H. Jain, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 They had been instructed to stop living with their Jewish partners, or to stop dating them altogether, throughout a multiyear conversion process. Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
According to my calculations, the White House methodology yields the absurd conclusion that eliminating the corporate tax altogether would boost annual household wages by up to $20,000. Jason Furman, WSJ, 22 Oct. 2017 See all Example Sentences for altogether 

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English altogedere, from al all + togedere together

Noun

derivative of altogether entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of altogether was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near altogether

Cite this Entry

“Altogether.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altogether. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

altogether

adverb
al·​to·​geth·​er
ˌȯl-tə-ˈget͟h-ər
1
: wholly, completely
an altogether different problem
2
: with everything taken into account : in all
spent $25 altogether
3
: on the whole
altogether their efforts succeeded

More from Merriam-Webster on altogether

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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