altogether
awl-tuu-GEHTH-uh
Altogether (adv) means Completely; entirely. Example: “The mistake was altogether my fault, and I am sorry for it.”
adv
1
Completely; entirely.
"The mistake was altogether my fault, and I am sorry for it."
"He gave up sugar altogether after the doctor's advice."
"The old bridge was altogether destroyed by the flood."
2
Considering everything together; overall.
"Altogether, the three of us spent about two hours painting the fence."
"There were thirty guests altogether, which was more than we had planned for."
"Altogether, it was a successful trip despite the delays."
How to use altogether
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "completely" or "taking everything into account," depending on context.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "all together" (everyone/everything in one place or at once) — "altogether" means "entirely" or "overall." "They arrived all together" vs. "It was altogether too much."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- altogethers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The mistake was _____ my fault, and I am sorry for it.
Etymology
From Middle English altogeder, formed from "all" plus "together."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for altogether
See all rhymes for altogether →Frequently asked questions
What does “altogether” mean?
The word “altogether” means completely; entirely. In plain terms, either "completely" or "taking everything into account," depending on context.
How do you pronounce “altogether”?
“Altogether” is pronounced awl-tuu-GEHTH-uh (/ɔl.tuˈɡɛð.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “altogether” in a sentence?
Here is “altogether” used in a sentence: “The old bridge was altogether destroyed by the flood.”
What part of speech is “altogether”?
“Altogether” is an adverb.
Where does the word “altogether” come from?
The word “altogether” comes from Middle English. From Middle English altogeder, formed from "all" plus "together.".
Is “altogether” a common word?
“Altogether” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “altogether” have?
“Altogether” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: completely; entirely.
What is the difference between altogether and all together?
Altogether is a single adverb meaning completely or, when weighing everything up, overall: 'the trip was altogether wonderful.' All together, written as two words, means everyone or everything in one place or at the same time: 'the family was all together at Christmas.' A quick test: if you can split the phrase into 'all of them together,' you need two words.
Can you start a sentence with altogether?
Yes. At the start of a sentence, altogether usually carries its summarizing sense of 'considering everything together': 'Altogether, it was a successful year.' In that position it works like 'overall' or 'on the whole' and is normally followed by a comma.
When should you use altogether instead of completely?
Use altogether when you want a slightly more formal tone or its special summing-up sense of 'overall,' which completely lacks: 'Altogether, the costs were manageable.' For the plain sense of 'entirely,' the two are interchangeable — 'an altogether different approach' equals 'a completely different approach.' Completely is the more neutral, conversational choice.
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