the whole time
noun
1
: since something began : during the entire period of time
The police knew the whole time who was guilty.
2
British
: at all times : always
You can't be right the whole time.
3
British, informal
: very often
My sisters and I used to fight the whole time.
Examples of the whole time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
My family from Ecuador was texting me in our family group chat the whole time.
—
Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026
Over the past four decades, the guitarist has drifted between avant jazz and Americana (and a little doom metal, too), sounding like nobody else the whole time.
—Archie Forde, Pitchfork, 6 Mar. 2026
Jane was drinking the whole time.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 4 Mar. 2026
The Major League Eating speed-eating record for giant cabbage is 6 pounds, 9 ounces in 9 minutes, held by Charles Hardy, who was ahead the whole time.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the whole time
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.
Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026
Over the past four decades, the guitarist has drifted between avant jazz and Americana (and a little doom metal, too), sounding like nobody else the whole time.
—Archie Forde, Pitchfork, 6 Mar. 2026
Jane was drinking the whole time.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 4 Mar. 2026
The Major League Eating speed-eating record for giant cabbage is 6 pounds, 9 ounces in 9 minutes, held by Charles Hardy, who was ahead the whole time.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the whole time
Cite this Entry
“The whole time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20whole%20time. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
