Meaning
in a complete or total manner; totally; utterly
Primary Function
Emphasising full extent or totality
Communicative Purpose
To stress that a state, action, or condition is complete rather than partial.
Pattern
completely
Core Structure
completely
Função primária
Emphasising full extent or totality
Propósito comunicativo
To stress that a state, action, or condition is complete rather than partial.
Situações de gatilho
When describing absolute states (e.g., finished, lost), unanimous agreement, or total change.
Contextos
All registers from informal conversation to formal writing; used wherever emphasis on completeness is needed.
Padrão
completely
Estrutura central
completely
Slots de substituição
None (the adverb is fixed)
Colocados típicos
- completely different
- completely agree
- completely understand
- completely finished
Substituições comuns
- totally
- entirely
- utterly
- fully
Erros comuns
Using with gradable adjectives that imply partiality can sound odd; prefer ‘very good’ instead of ‘completely good’. Also avoid overuse in formal writing where brevity is preferred.
Similar / contraste
totally (informal), entirely (more neutral/formal), wholly or in its entirety (formal/technical contexts)
Interferências
Learners may confuse 'completely' with 'absolutely' or 'totally'; note that 'completely' stresses totality without exception, while 'absolutely' can also convey strong agreement.
Família do chunk
- totally
- utterly
- completely
- absolutely
Nuance
Completely emphasizes totality with no exceptions; slightly more formal than 'totally' and less colloquial than 'absolutely'.
Efeito pragmático
emphasizes the totality or completeness of the situation, strengthening the speaker's assertion
Dica de memória
Imagine a glass filled to the brim with water.
Nota
Used to stress that something is done or true in every part or to the fullest extent.
Upgrade path
utterly
Log in to save chunks.