What Does “Completely” Mean?
“Completely” is an adverb that denotes the idea of something being done in full, total, or entire manner. It suggests the totality or finality of an action, state, or condition. When something is done “completely,” it means that nothing is left undone or incomplete. It often conveys a sense of thoroughness or finality.
Definition:
- Completely (adverb): To the full extent or degree; entirely; without exception or omission.
Example:
- “She completely forgot about the meeting.”
Synonyms for “Completely”
Strongest Matches (Direct Synonyms):
- Totally – Suggests the entire or full extent of something.
- Example: “The system was totally revamped.”
- Entirely – Means fully or with no part left out.
- Example: “He was entirely responsible for the success of the project.”
- Fully – Refers to the whole amount or degree.
- Example: “She is fully aware of the consequences.”
- Utterly – Typically used to emphasize the extreme or absolute nature of something.
- Example: “I was utterly amazed by the performance.”
Strong Matches (Similar, but Slightly Different):
- Absolutely – Suggests complete certainty or a strong degree of something.
- Example: “I am absolutely certain that we will succeed.”
- Wholly – Denotes a sense of completeness with no part excluded.
- Example: “They wholly embraced the new idea.”
- Unreservedly – Indicates full commitment or agreement without holding back.
- Example: “She unreservedly supported the proposal.”
Weak Matches (Less Direct but Related Synonyms):
- Perfectly – Implies completeness but often relates to flawlessness or ideal conditions.
- Example: “The cake turned out perfectly.”
- Thoroughly – Implies a careful or detailed completion, though it can focus more on process than totality.
- Example: “They thoroughly examined the case.”
- Totally – Often used in casual contexts to express completeness but can be more informal than “completely.”
- Example: “The movie was totally awesome.”
- Consistently – Suggests a steady, uninterrupted manner but doesn’t fully imply totality like “completely.”
- Example: “She performed consistently well in all tasks.”
Example Sentences Using “Completely”
- “The project was completely finished by the end of the day.”
(Meaning the entire project was done without any part left unfinished.) - “He completely misunderstood the instructions and got everything wrong.”
(Meaning he misunderstood in full, with no accurate understanding.) - “The room was completely silent when the news was announced.”
(Indicating that the silence was total, with no noise whatsoever.) - “She was completely exhausted after the long run.”
(Describing the state of total exhaustion with no energy remaining.)
Contextual Usage of “Completely”
The word “completely” can be used in various contexts to express fullness, totality, or thoroughness. It’s often used in formal writing, conversational speech, and technical contexts where the extent of an action or state needs to be emphasized.
- In Casual Conversations: It can emphasize how thorough or total an experience was.
- Example: “That movie was completely awesome!”
- In Professional Settings: It can highlight a job done to full satisfaction or detail.
- Example: “The report was completely reviewed before submission.”
- In Scientific and Technical Contexts: It may refer to precise or absolute completeness.
- Example: “The experiment was completely controlled to eliminate all variables.”
Related Words and Phrases
- Total – Often used as an adjective to express completeness.
- Example: “This is a total failure.”
- Full – Denotes the entirety of something but can be used for non-abstract contexts.
- Example: “The tank is full of gas.”
- Final – Refers to something that is conclusive or absolute.
- Example: “This is the final decision on the matter.”
Common Phrases with “Completely”
- Completely at ease – Feeling entirely comfortable or relaxed.
- Example: “She was completely at ease during the interview.”
- Completely different – Signifying a total change or difference.
- Example: “The two cultures are completely different.”
- Completely wrong – Referring to something being entirely incorrect.
- Example: “The assumption was completely wrong.”
- Completely sure – Expressing absolute certainty.
- Example: “I am completely sure that this is the right choice.”
Additional Information
The adverb “completely” can often be found in both casual and formal contexts, but it is especially common in situations requiring emphasis on the extent or entirety of an action or state. Whether in everyday conversation or professional discourse, “completely” helps underscore the totality of an action or condition. It is important to note that “completely” can be seen as somewhat stronger than synonyms like “partially” or “somewhat,” which suggest incompleteness.
Disclaimer
The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. While the explanations and examples are accurate to the best of our knowledge, language usage can evolve, and context can greatly impact the meaning of specific words. Always consider the context in which you are using a word to ensure appropriate communication.
