whole

UK: /ˈhəʊl/ US: /hoʊl/ ,(hōl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

whole /hoʊl/   adj. 

1. making up the full amount, number, extent, or length of time;
   entire:
   [before a noun] He ate the whole pie. She ran the whole distance. Let's start the whole thing over.
2. lacking nothing;
   having all pieces;
   complete:
   [before a noun] a whole set of china.
3. Mathematics not a fraction:
   [before a noun] a whole number, like 2 or 3.
4. not broken or damaged;
   in one piece;
   not injured or hurt:
   Thankfully, the vase arrived whole.
5. (used to emphasize how much an amount is):
   I'd feel a whole lot better if you'd point that gun somewhere else.

n. [countable]

6. the entire amount, number, or extent.
7. a thing complete in itself, as an assembly of parts or elements thought of as one thing;
   a unitary system:
   combined the elements of the theory into a unified whole.

Idioms

8. Idioms as a whole, as a unit;
   considered together.
9. Idioms on the whole:
   • everything considered;
     in general:
     On the whole, I agree with you.
10. out of whole cloth, without foundation in fact;
    fictitious.

whole•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

whole  (hōl), adj. 

1. comprising the full quantity, amount, extent, number, etc., without diminution or exception;
   entire, full, or total:
   He ate the whole pie. They ran the whole distance.
2. containing all the elements properly belonging;
   complete:
   We have a whole set of antique china.
3. undivided;
   in one piece:
   to swallow a thing whole.
4. Mathematics integral, or not fractional.
5. not broken, damaged, or impaired;
   intact:
   Thankfully, the vase arrived whole.
6. uninjured or unharmed;
   sound:
   He was surprised to find himself whole after the crash.
7. pertaining to all aspects of human nature, esp. one's physical, intellectual, and spiritual development:
   education for the whole person.
8. out of whole cloth, without foundation in fact;
   fictitious:
   a story made out of whole cloth.

n. 

9. the whole assemblage of parts or elements belonging to a thing;
   the entire quantity, account, extent, or number:
   He accepted some of the parts but rejected the whole.
10. a thing complete in itself, or comprising all its parts or elements.
11. an assemblage of parts associated or viewed together as one thing;
    a unitary system.
12. as a whole, all things included or considered;
    altogether:
    As a whole, the relocation seems to have been beneficial.
13. on or upon the whole:
    • in view of all the circumstances;
      after consideration.
    • disregarding exceptions;
      in general:
      On the whole, the neighborhood is improving.

• bef. 900; Middle English hole, hool (adjective, adjectival and noun, nominal), Old English hāl (adjective, adjectival); cognate with Dutch heel, German heil, Old Norse heill; see hale¹, heal; spelling, spelled with w reflects dialect, dialectal form

whole′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. undiminished, integral, complete.
• 5. unimpaired, perfect.
• 9. totality, aggregate.
  Whole, total mean the entire or complete sum or amount. The whole is all there is; every part, member, aspect; the complete sum, amount, quantity of anything, not divided; the entirety:
  the whole of one's property, family.
  Total also means whole, complete amount, or number, but conveys the idea of something added together or added up:
  The total of their gains amounted to millions.

Antonyms

• 1. partial.
• 9. part.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

whole / həʊl/ adjective

1. containing all the component parts necessary to form a total; complete: a whole apple
2. constituting the full quantity, extent, etc
3. uninjured or undamaged
4. healthy
5. having no fractional or decimal part; integral: a whole number
6. of, relating to, or designating a relationship established by descent from the same parents; full: whole brothers
7. out of whole cloth ⇒ entirely without a factual basis

adverb

1. in an undivided or unbroken piece: to swallow a plum whole

noun

1. all the parts, elements, etc, of a thing
2. an assemblage of parts viewed together as a unit
3. a thing complete in itself
4. as a whole ⇒ considered altogether; completely
5. on the whole ⇒ taking all things into consideration
6. in general

Etymology: Old English hāl, hǣl; related to Old Frisian hāl, hēl, Old High German heil, Gothic hails; compare hale¹

ˈwholeness noun