whole
hohl
Whole (adj) means Complete, with no part missing or removed. Example: “She ate the whole pizza by herself.”
adj
1
Complete, with no part missing or removed.
"She ate the whole pizza by herself."
"We need the whole team to finish this on time."
noun
1
A complete thing, made up of all its parts together.
"The individual chapters work together to form a coherent whole."
How to use whole
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishComplete and undivided — nothing missing.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "hole" (a gap or opening) — they sound identical but mean opposite things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
the whole thing
as a whole
whole number
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Word forms
- Plural
- wholes
- Comparative
- wholer, more whole
- Superlative
- wholest, most whole
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She ate the _____ pizza by herself.
Etymology
From Old English hāl, meaning "healthy, unhurt, complete" — the same root behind heal, health, and holy. The odd silent "w" was added in spelling centuries later, partly to keep "whole" visually distinct from "hole."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for whole
See all rhymes for whole →Frequently asked questions
What does “whole” mean?
The word “whole” means complete, with no part missing or removed. In plain terms, complete and undivided — nothing missing.
How do you pronounce “whole”?
“Whole” is pronounced hohl (/hoʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “whole” in a sentence?
Here is “whole” used in a sentence: “She ate the whole pizza by herself.”
What part of speech is “whole”?
Depending on how it is used, “whole” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “whole” come from?
The word “whole” comes from Old English. From Old English hāl, meaning "healthy, unhurt, complete" — the same root behind heal, health, and holy. The odd silent "w" was added in spelling centuries later, partly to keep "whole" visually distinct from "hole.".
Is “whole” a common word?
“Whole” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “whole” have?
“Whole” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: complete, with no part missing or removed.
What is the difference between 'whole' and 'hole'?
They sound the same but are unrelated. 'Whole' is usually an adjective meaning complete, with nothing missing: 'the whole cake.' 'Hole' is a noun meaning a gap or hollow opening: 'a hole in the wall.' A handy reminder — 'whole' contains the word 'who,' while a 'hole' is an empty space.
What is the difference between 'whole' and 'complete'?
The two are close in meaning and often interchangeable. 'Whole' stresses that nothing has been divided or taken away — a single, unbroken unit, as in 'the whole pizza.' 'Complete' stresses that nothing is lacking, that every part is present, as in 'a complete set.' One is about being undivided; the other about being finished.
What is the opposite of 'whole'?
The opposite depends on the sense. When 'whole' means complete, its opposites are 'partial' or 'incomplete.' When it means a single undivided unit, the contrast is a 'part,' 'piece,' or 'fraction.' A whole is everything together; its opposites are the bits and pieces that make it up, or something with parts missing.
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