entirely

adverb

en·​tire·​ly in-ˈtī(-ə)r-lē How to pronounce entirely (audio)
ˈen-ˌtī(-ə)r-
1
: to the full or entire extent : completely
I agree entirely
you are entirely welcome
2
: to the exclusion of others : solely
entirely by my own efforts

Examples of entirely in a Sentence

are you entirely aware of what you're doing with that thing?
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.
But treating it as a future phase is missing the point entirely. Tia Smith, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 If the ice starts disappearing entirely in summer, global temperatures could rise an extra 0.19 degree C by 2050. Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 May 2025 The region lacks access to quality education, health care and essential public services; electricity outages are common, and during harsh winters, villages are often cut off entirely from the outside world. Natela Grigalashvili, The Dial, 20 May 2025 The discovery of the ozone hole led directly to the Montreal Protocol just two years later – an agreement that froze the production and use of ozone-depleting substances at 1986 levels and set the groundwork for phasing them out entirely. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for entirely

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of entirely was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Entirely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entirely. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on entirely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!