altogether

1 of 2

adverb

al·​to·​geth·​er ˌȯl-tə-ˈge-t͟hər How to pronounce altogether (audio)
1
: wholly, completely
an altogether different problem
stopped raining altogether
2
: in all : all told
spent a hundred dollars altogether
3
: on the whole
Altogether their efforts were successful.

altogether

2 of 2

noun

informal
: nude
used with the
posed in the altogether

Examples of altogether in a Sentence

Adverb They had an altogether new idea. If we don't do something now, the forests may disappear altogether. It's best to avoid the situation altogether. Altogether, their efforts were successful. Noun had never posed in the altogether for a photographer before
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
Then, in 2023, Baker skipped trial altogether and pleaded no contest. Michelle Miller, CBS News, 9 Mar. 2024 Much like Trump’s original executive order, the bill would force ByteDance to sell the platform and, if the company refused, would allow Congress to ban the site altogether. Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 Since then, the Free Enterprise Club has sued in Yavapai County, arguing drop boxes should be banned altogether because state law does not provide for them. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Some people wanted to shut down the police altogether. Jason Parham, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Supporters of stronger disclosure requirements said the omissions could undermine the rule altogether. David Gelles, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Some are opting to hold e-learning days and others are giving students the day off altogether. Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2024 But leaders shouldn’t try to ban political speech altogether, as legal regimes increasingly constrain blanket bans on political discussion. Diane Brady, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 Parking garages in South Beach will close altogether from March 7 to 10 and March 14 to 17. USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024
Noun
According to my calculations, the White House methodology yields the absurd conclusion that eliminating the corporate tax altogether would boost annual household wages by up to $20,000. Jason Furman, WSJ, 22 Oct. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'altogether.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb and Noun

Middle English altogedere, from al all + togedere together

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of altogether was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near altogether

Cite this Entry

“Altogether.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altogether. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

altogether

adverb
al·​to·​geth·​er
ˌȯl-tə-ˈget͟h-ər
1
: wholly, thoroughly
an altogether different problem
2
: with everything taken into account : in all
the bill came to $25 altogether
3
: on the whole
altogether their efforts were successful

More from Merriam-Webster on altogether

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