as a whole
idiom
: as a complete unit
—used to make a statement that relates to all the parts of something
Language as a whole is constantly evolving.
The lecture was intended for the group as a whole.
The company as a whole is doing well.
Examples of as a whole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But Paschall, the Riverside resident, noted that Indiana as a whole narrowly chose Democrat Barack Obama to be president in 2008 — an election that saw a 62% turnout among Hoosier voters, the second-highest rate among presidential elections in the 21st century behind 2020.
—
Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025
Advertisement Walz argued that anyone involved in fraudulent schemes should be held to account, but urged against targeting Somalis as a whole.
—Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
The search and rescue system as a whole receives about $40 million from Congress each year, which has not kept up with the cost of inflation, Pagurek says.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 4 Dec. 2025
Although Kirchner’s true intentions are impossible to know at this point, and his story remains hazy, the rough outline has been enough to inspire worried conversation about the AI-safety movement as a whole.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for as a whole
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.
Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025
Advertisement Walz argued that anyone involved in fraudulent schemes should be held to account, but urged against targeting Somalis as a whole.
—Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
The search and rescue system as a whole receives about $40 million from Congress each year, which has not kept up with the cost of inflation, Pagurek says.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 4 Dec. 2025
Although Kirchner’s true intentions are impossible to know at this point, and his story remains hazy, the rough outline has been enough to inspire worried conversation about the AI-safety movement as a whole.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for as a whole
Cite this Entry
“As a whole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/as%20a%20whole. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share