utterly

UK: /ˈʌtə^rli/ US: (ut′ər lē)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ut•ter•ly  (ut′ər lē), adv. 

1. in an utter manner;
   completely;
   absolutely.

• 1175–1225; Middle English; see utter², -ly

Synonyms

entirely, fully, wholly, totally.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

utterly / ˈʌtəlɪ/ adverb

1. (intensifier): I'm utterly miserable

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ut•ter¹ /ˈʌtɚ/   v. [~ + object]

1. to speak or pronounce:
   He was unable to utter a word.
2. to emit or give out (cries, notes, etc.) with the voice:
   to utter a sigh.
3. to give forth (a sound) otherwise than with the voice:
   The engine uttered a shriek.

ut•ter² /ˈʌtɚ/   adj. [before a noun]

1. complete;
   total;
   absolute:
   utter abandonment to grief.

ut•ter•ly, adv.: 

That book is utterly boring.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ut•ter¹  (ut′ər), v.t. 

1. to give audible expression to;
   speak or pronounce:
   unable to utter her feelings; Words were uttered in my hearing.
2. to give forth (cries, notes, etc.) with the voice:
   to utter a sigh.
3. [Phonet.] to produce (speech sounds, speechlike sounds, syllables, words, etc.) audibly, with or without reference to formal language.
4. to express (oneself or itself ), esp. in words.
5. to give forth (a sound) otherwise than with the voice:
   The engine uttered a shriek.
6. to express by written or printed words.
7. to make publicly known;
   publish:
   to utter a libel.
8. to put into circulation, as coins, notes, and esp. counterfeit money or forged checks.
9. to expel;
   emit.
10. [Obs.] to publish, as a book.
11. [Obs.] to sell.

v.i. 

12. to employ the faculty of speech;
    use the voice to talk, make sounds, etc.:
    His piety prevented him from uttering on religion.
13. to sustain utterance;
    undergo speaking:
    Those ideas are so dishonest they will not utter.

• 1350–1400; Middle English outren (see out, -er⁶); cognate with German äussern to declare

ut′ter•a•ble, adj. 
ut′ter•er, n. 
ut′ter•less, adj. 

ut•ter²  (ut′ər), adj. 

1. complete;
   total;
   absolute:
   her utter abandonment to grief.
2. unconditional;
   unqualified:
   an utter denial.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English uttra, ūtera outer. See out, -er⁴

ut′ter•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See absolute.