Whole meaning

What does “whole” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“whole” is a noun, adjective and adverb with 8 meanings. Its most common meaning is: all of something including all its component elements or parts.

whole

noun

  1. all of something including all its component elements or parts

    “Europe considered as a whole”

    “the whole of American literature”

  2. an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity

    “how big is that part compared to the whole?”

    “the team is a unit”

    Synonymsunit

adjective

  1. including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

    “gave his whole attention”

    “a whole wardrobe for the tropics”

    Oppositesfractional
  2. (of siblings) having the same parents

    “whole brothers and sisters”

    Oppositeshalf
  3. not injured or harmed

  4. exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health

    “hale and hearty”

    “whole in mind and body”

    Synonymshale
  5. acting together as a single undiversified whole

    “a solid voting bloc”

adverb

  1. to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly')

    “he was wholly convinced”

    “entirely satisfied with the meal”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University