1 al·to·geth·er
Pronounced:
/ˌɑ:ltəˈgɛðɚ/
Function:
adverbMeaning:
1 : completely and fully : totally, entirely ▪ They had an altogether new idea. ▪ It stopped raining altogether. ▪ If we don't do something now, the forests may disappear altogether. ▪ It's best to avoid the situation altogether. ▪ That's an altogether different question. = That's a different question altogether. —often used with not ▪ It is not altogether clear why she left. ▪ He didn't altogether believe her story. —often used for emphasis before another adverb ▪ This is an altogether more sensible solution. ▪ I've said altogether [=entirely] too much on the subject already.
2 : with everything added together : when everything is added up ▪ They spent a thousand dollars altogether. [=in all] ▪ Altogether [=all told], we sold nearly 500 candy bars.
3 : in a general way : when everything is considered ▪ Altogether [=generally, on the whole, all in all] I'd say this was our best vacation ever. ▪ Altogether, their efforts were successful.
2 : with everything added together : when everything is added up ▪ They spent a thousand dollars altogether. [=in all] ▪ Altogether [=all told], we sold nearly 500 candy bars.
3 : in a general way : when everything is considered ▪ Altogether [=generally, on the whole, all in all] I'd say this was our best vacation ever. ▪ Altogether, their efforts were successful.
usage Do not confuse the single word altogether with the two-word phrase all together. ▪ We were all together [=all in a group, all with each other] for the whole day. ▪ I tried to hold it all together with glue, but the pieces fell apart. ▪ The detective put it all together [=figured out how the pieces of information related to each other] and solved the crime. ▪ All together [=all at the same time] now, everybody, let's sing!