What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
entire
Example
I spent the entire day cleaning the house. [entire: adjective]
Example
The entire population was affected by the natural disaster. [entire: adjective]
Example
She read the entire book in one sitting. [entire: adjective]
whole
Example
He ate the whole pizza by himself. [whole: adjective]
Example
The whole team worked together to finish the project. [whole: noun]
Example
She felt a sense of relief when the whole truth was finally revealed. [whole: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Whole is more commonly used than entire in everyday language. Whole is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while entire is less common and tends to be used in more formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between entire and whole?
Entire is often associated with a more formal or technical tone, while whole is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
