rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryaltogetherCompletely
adverb

altogether

awl-tuh-GETH-er/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/

Taking the whole into account without leaving anything out.

The baker's ingredients, taken altogether, form the complete mixture in the bowl.

A baker gathers every ingredient into one mixing bowl and stirs the complete mixture as a single whole.
Etymology
alOld Englishwholly, entirely
+togetherOld Englishin one place or group

“Together” strengthens “all” to express completeness rather than merely being in one place. The word also came to mean considering everything as a single whole.

In context

TED-Ed3:43
Linguists tend to avoid the term dialect altogether.
What makes a language... a language? - Martin Hilpert
TED-Ed4:24
electric vehicles are now expected to replace gas-powered ones altogether.
The surprisingly long history of electric cars - Daniel Sperling and Gil Tal

More examples

  • The instructions are not altogether clear.
  • Her arrival changes the mood altogether.
  • Altogether, it was a productive meeting despite the delay.

Similar words

entirely
Expresses completeness but not the sense of counting a total.
overall
Emphasizes a general assessment rather than absolute completeness.