totally
TOH-tuh-lee
Totally (adv) means Completely; to the fullest extent. Example: “I was totally exhausted after walking all day in the heat.”
adv
1
Completely; to the fullest extent.
"I was totally exhausted after walking all day in the heat."
"The two plans are totally different from each other."
"The building was totally destroyed by the fire."
2
Informal: used to emphasise agreement or intensity.
"You should totally try the new cafe near the station!"
"That movie was totally amazing."
"I totally agree with you."
How to use totally
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCompletely, or (informally) used just for emphasis.
When to use it
The emphatic, casual use ("totally amazing") is informal and common in spoken English.
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Etymology
Formed from total plus the adverb suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for totally
See all rhymes for totally →Frequently asked questions
What does “totally” mean?
The word “totally” means completely; to the fullest extent. In plain terms, completely, or (informally) used just for emphasis.
How do you pronounce “totally”?
“Totally” is pronounced TOH-tuh-lee (/ˈtoʊ.tə.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “totally” in a sentence?
Here is “totally” used in a sentence: “The building was totally destroyed by the fire.”
What part of speech is “totally”?
“Totally” is an adverb.
Is “totally” a common word?
“Totally” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “totally” have?
“Totally” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: completely; to the fullest extent.
What is the difference between 'totally' and 'completely'?
As intensifiers the two are almost interchangeable — 'totally full' and 'completely full' mean the same. The slight difference is tone: totally feels a little more casual and emphatic, while completely sounds marginally more formal and neutral. Totally also has an informal use meaning 'yes, definitely', which completely does not share.
Is 'totally' formal or informal?
In its core sense of 'completely', totally is neutral and fine in most writing. However, when used alone to show enthusiastic agreement — 'Totally!' meaning 'absolutely' — or as filler like 'that's totally cool', it becomes casual, conversational slang that is better kept out of formal documents.
What is the opposite of totally?
The opposites are partially, partly, and slightly — words that mean only to some degree rather than the whole. Where totally means completely and to the fullest extent, these describe an incomplete amount. 'Not at all' also works as an opposite when you want to negate the idea entirely.
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