altogether

altogether — adverb

1. when added up, giving the full count or sum of a group of separate amounts.

1.副詞B1
釋義

when added up, giving the full count or sum of a group of separate amounts.

例句

Theo saved 80 dollars in May and 45 in June, so altogether she has 125.

altogether sums multiple amounts

There were twelve guests altogether at Jin's birthday dinner on Saturday.

altogether following a count noun

同義詞
  • in total

    more neutral; works in any register

  • in all

    common in formal counts and reports

  • all told

    slightly informal; often after the figure

文法句型

altogether + number/amount

用法筆記

Often comes at the end of a clause or right after the number/amount it sums. Distinguish from sense 2: here, altogether replaces 'in total', while sense 2 replaces 'completely'.

常見錯誤

❌I have altogether five books.
✅I have five books altogether.
💡when summing amounts, altogether usually follows the number, not precedes it.
❌The bill was altogether wrong by 200 yen.
✅The bill was wrong by 200 yen altogether.
💡for a total amount, place altogether at the end.

2. to the fullest possible degree; with nothing left out, used to make a strong sta

2.副詞B2
釋義

to the fullest possible degree; with nothing left out, used to make a strong statement stronger.

例句

After the storm, the small wooden bridge had vanished altogether from the riverbank.

altogether emphasizes a complete change

Kalani stopped eating sugar altogether after his doctor warned him about diabetes.

stop/give up + altogether

同義詞
  • completely

    most natural everyday choice

  • entirely

    slightly more formal; same scope

  • wholly

    formal; common in writing

  • totally

    informal in speech, especially with adjectives

反義詞

文法句型

altogether + adjective

altogether + verb phrase

用法筆記

Frequently appears with 'not' to soften a denial ('not altogether sure' = mostly unsure but not 100%). Common after verbs of stopping, removing, or disappearing.

常見錯誤

❌She is altogether of a teacher.
✅She is altogether unlike a teacher.
💡altogether modifies adjectives or verbs, not noun phrases on their own.
❌I altogether agree.
✅I altogether disagree.' or ✅ 'I completely agree.
💡use altogether before strong/extreme words; for plain 'agree', prefer 'completely'.

3. said before giving a final overall judgement once all the good and bad points ha

3.副詞B2
釋義

said before giving a final overall judgement once all the good and bad points have been weighed.

例句

The hotel was small and the food was simple, but altogether we enjoyed our weekend in Hualien.

altogether opens a summing-up clause

Altogether, the new bus route saves Tariq about thirty minutes a day.

altogether at the start of a summary sentence

同義詞

文法句型

altogether, + summary clause

用法筆記

Functions as a sentence adverb, usually set off by a comma, and signals that the speaker is summing up. Distinguish from sense 2: replace with 'on the whole' here, with 'completely' for sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌Altogether the soup is hot.
✅Altogether, the meal was satisfying.
💡use this sense to sum up several points, not for one simple fact.
❌I altogether think the trip was good.
✅Altogether, I think the trip was good.
💡place altogether at the start of the clause when giving an overall verdict.

altogether — noun