utterly

adverb

ut·​ter·​ly ˈə-tər-lē How to pronounce utterly (audio)
: to an absolute or extreme degree : to the full extent : in an utter manner : absolutely, entirely, totally
Just when you're expecting to hear something trite or ordinary, Rich invents a tasty, utterly charming piece of ear candy.Carol Cooper
Whatever this stuff is, it comprises as much as 90% of the mass of the universe. It is also utterly invisible.M. Mitchell Waldrop
… a fascinating read, despite the fact that its unique tone is utterly lost in translation.Ian Buruma
Cut off utterly from her past, but socially unacceptable in this new world, Irene chooses the same refuge that's worked for her as a child: poetry.Sue Miller

Examples of utterly in a Sentence

we are in fact utterly out of ideas was utterly overwhelmed by the demands on her time
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.
Underpinning all his goofiness was an utterly sincere and infectious confidence and belief in A Complete Unknown, and a genuine desire to share it with as many people as possible. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025 Listening to it now, I am struck mostly by JD’s utterly original harmony vocal. Melinda Newman, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2025 Each one is utterly familiar and utterly strange. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025 This relentless barrage of interruptions and switching between thoughts and technology platforms is leaving us utterly exhausted, says Paul Leonardi, department chair and Duca Family Professor of Technology Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for utterly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Utterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utterly. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on utterly

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!