Completely

Part of Speech

Adverb

Pronunciation

British English: /kəmˈpliːt.li/

American English: /kəmˈpliːt.li/

Definitions

• Totally; to the fullest extent possible.
• Without anything lacking; entirely.

Usage Examples

• The house was completely destroyed by the storm.
• She completely forgot about the meeting.
• He was completely unaware of the situation.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin completus ("filled up, finished"), from complere ("to fill up, make whole"). The modern English adverbial form evolved from "complete" in Middle English.

Synonyms

• Totally
• Entirely
• Fully
• Absolutely
• Wholly

Antonyms

• Partially
• Incompletely
• Partly
• Insufficiently

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• In American English, the "t" in "completely" is often pronounced as a flap sound, making it sound like "compleedly."
• In British English, the "t" sound remains crisp and clear.

Historical Usage

The use of "completely" as an adverb has been consistent since the 15th century, mainly used to emphasize totality or absoluteness in actions and conditions.

Cultural Nuances

The word "completely" is often used in casual and formal speech to emphasize full extent or certainty. In some cultures, words conveying absoluteness might be softened to sound less direct or extreme.

More Information

"Completely" is commonly used in both written and spoken English to add emphasis. It is frequently found in academic, technical, and conversational contexts, helping to clarify the extent of an action or state. The word is also a key component in idiomatic phrases such as "completely lost" or "completely wrong." Overuse of the term in writing can sometimes diminish its impact, so it is often recommended to vary expressions when emphasizing totality.