Whole vs. Entire — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on October 27, 2023

Whole and Entire both mean "complete" or "not lacking," but "whole" often refers to something that remains undivided or unbroken, while "entire" emphasizes totality or fullness.

Whole vs. Entire — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Whole and Entire

Key Differences

"Whole" and "entire" are synonyms that often can be used interchangeably. However, "whole" usually emphasizes the completeness or undivided nature of something. For instance, one might refer to a "whole apple" when emphasizing that it hasn't been cut or divided.

"Entire," on the other hand, underscores the total, full, or absolute nature of something. Saying "the entire team attended the meeting" conveys that every single member was present, emphasizing the fullness.

In some contexts, "whole" might be used to describe something that remains intact, as opposed to being in pieces. For example, "The vase was sold as a whole" implies the vase was not broken or sold in parts.

"Entire" often comes into play when one is emphasizing that no part was excluded. For example, "He read the entire book in one day" means no page or chapter was skipped.

Both words are powerful in their own right, but their nuances can enhance the clarity and precision of a statement. For instance, saying "the whole group" might merely suggest a collective, while "the entire group" might suggest that absolutely no one was left out.

Comparison Chart

Basic Definition

Complete or undivided

Total or full

Emphasis

Integrity, undivided nature

Completeness, no part excluded

Common Usage

Whole grain, whole fruit

Entire collection, entire lifetime

Collocation

Often with foods and objects

Often with periods of time or collections

Grammatical Use

Usually precedes the noun directly

Can be separated from the noun by adverbs

Compare with Definitions

Whole

All of something without division.

He ate the whole cake.

Entire

Having nothing left out; whole; complete.

She spent her entire savings on the trip.

Whole

A thing complete in itself.

The earth is a whole in the universe.

Entire

Constituting the full quantity or extent.

He was the entire reason for the party.

Whole

Containing all components; complete

The whole series of novels.

Entire

Unmitigated; pure.

It was an entire disaster.

Whole

Not divided or disjoined; in one unit

A whole loaf.

Entire

Having no part excluded or left out; whole

I read the entire book.

Whole

Constituting the full amount, extent, or duration

The baby cried the whole trip home.

Entire

Constituting the full amount, extent, or duration

We spent the entire day at the beach.

Whole

Not wounded, injured, or impaired; sound or unhurt

Many escaped the fire frightened but whole.

Entire

Not broken, decayed, or divided; intact

An old building with its roof entire.

Whole

Having been restored; healed

After the treatment he felt whole.

Entire

With no reservations or limitations; complete

Gave us his entire attention.

Whole

Having the same parents

A whole sister.

Entire

Not castrated.

Whole

A number, group, set, or thing lacking no part or element; a complete thing.

Entire

(Botany) Not having an indented margin

An entire leaf.

Whole

An entity or system made up of interrelated parts

The value of the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.

Entire

(Archaic) Unmixed or unalloyed; pure or homogenous.

Whole

Entirely; wholly

A whole new idea.

Entire

The whole; the entirety.

Whole

Entire, undivided.

I ate a whole fish.

Entire

An uncastrated horse; a stallion.

Whole

Used as an intensifier.

I brought a whole lot of balloons for the party.

She ate a whole bunch of french fries.

Entire

Whole; complete.

We had the entire building to ourselves for the evening.

Whole

Sound, uninjured, healthy.

He is of whole mind, but the same cannot be said about his physical state.

Entire

(botany) Having a smooth margin without any indentation.

Whole

(of food) From which none of its constituents has been removed.

Whole wheat; whole milk

Entire

(botany) Consisting of a single piece, as a corolla.

Whole

(mining) As yet unworked.

Entire

Complex-differentiable on all of ℂ.

Whole

(colloquial) In entirety; entirely; wholly.

I ate a fish whole!

Entire

Not gelded.

Whole

Something complete, without any parts missing.

This variety of fascinating details didn't fall together into an enjoyable, coherent whole.

Entire

Morally whole; pure; sheer.

Whole

An entirety.

Entire

Internal; interior.

Whole

Containing the total amount, number, etc.; comprising all the parts; free from deficiency; all; total; entire; as, the whole earth; the whole solar system; the whole army; the whole nation.

The whole race of mankind.

Entire

The whole of something; the entirety.

Whole

Complete; entire; not defective or imperfect; not broken or fractured; unimpaired; uninjured; integral; as, a whole orange; the egg is whole; the vessel is whole.

My life is yet whole in me.

Entire

An uncastrated horse; a stallion.

Whole

Possessing, or being in a state of, heath and soundness; healthy; sound; well.

[She] findeth there her friends hole and sound.

They that be whole need not a physician.

When Sir Lancelot's deadly hurt was whole.

All the whole army stood agazed on him.

One entire and perfect chrysolite.

Lest total darkness should by night regainHer old possession, and extinguish life.

So absolute she seems,And in herself complete.

Entire

(philately) A complete envelope with stamps and all official markings: (prior to the use of envelopes) a page folded and posted.

Whole

The entire thing; the entire assemblage of parts; totality; all of a thing, without defect or exception; a thing complete in itself.

"This not the whole of life to live,Nor all of death to die.

Entire

Porter or stout as delivered from the brewery.

Whole

A regular combination of parts; a system.

Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole.

Entire

Complete in all parts; undivided; undiminished; whole; full and perfect; not deficient; as, the entire control of a business; entire confidence, ignorance.

That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

With strength entire and free will armed.

One entire and perfect chrysolite.

Whole

All of something including all its component elements or parts;

Europe considered as a whole

The whole of American literature

Entire

Without mixture or alloy of anything; unqualified; morally whole; pure; faithful.

Pure fear and entire cowardice.

No man had ever a heart more entire to the king.

Whole

An assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity;

How big is that part compared to the whole?

The team is a unit

Entire

Consisting of a single piece, as a corolla.

Whole

Including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete;

Gave his whole attention

A whole wardrobe for the tropics

The whole hog

A whole week

The baby cried the whole trip home

A whole loaf of bread

Entire

Not gelded; - said of a horse.

Whole

(of siblings) having the same parents;

Whole brothers and sisters

Entire

Internal; interior.

Whole

Exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health;

Hale and hearty

Whole in mind and body

A whole person again

Entire

Entirely.

Whole

To a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly');

He was wholly convinced

Entirely satisfied with the meal

It was completely different from what we expected

Was completely at fault

A totally new situation

The directions were all wrong

It was not altogether her fault

An altogether new approach

A whole new idea

Entire

A name originally given to a kind of beer combining qualities of different kinds of beer.

Whole

Intact and not broken or damaged.

The toy remained whole after the fall.

Entire

Uncastrated adult male horse

Whole

Used to emphasize the novelty or distinctiveness of something.

That's a whole new way of thinking.

Entire

Constituting the full quantity or extent; complete;

An entire town devastated by an earthquake

Gave full attention

A total failure

Whole

With all its parts or elements.

We spent the whole day together.

Entire

Constituting the undiminished entirety; lacking nothing essential especially not damaged;

A local motion keepeth bodies integral

Was able to keep the collection entire during his lifetime

Fought to keep the union intact

Entire

(of leaves or petals) having a smooth edge; not broken up into teeth or lobes

Entire

(used of domestic animals) sexually competent;

An entire horse

Entire

Not divided or broken up.

The entire window was shattered.

Entire

Without any others being included.

He was the entire workforce of the company.

Common Curiosities

Which one is more formal, "whole" or "entire"?

Both words are standard English and neither is more formal than the other.

How is "whole" often used in the context of food?

It emphasizes undivided nature, e.g., "whole fruit" or "whole grain."

Does "the whole team" mean the same as "the entire team"?

Essentially, yes, though "entire" may emphasize more on full attendance.

How can "entire" emphasize purity?

By indicating something is unmitigated, e.g., "an entire success."

Can "whole" emphasize novelty?

Yes, as in "a whole new way of looking at things."

Do both words always precede nouns directly?

"Whole" usually does, but "entire" can be separated by adverbs.

Can "whole" and "entire" be used interchangeably?

Often yes, but "whole" emphasizes undivided nature while "entire" emphasizes fullness or completeness.

Can "entire" be used with periods of time?

Yes, e.g., "He worked there his entire life."

Can "entire" be used to describe an unbroken object?

Not typically. "Whole" is more appropriate for indicating something is intact.

Can "whole" indicate health?

In some contexts, e.g., "whole foods" indicate unprocessed foods.

Is "the whole of the group" the same as "the entire group"?

Both imply completeness, but "entire" may be more emphatic about no exclusions.

Is "whole" always used in a positive context?

No, e.g., "The whole idea was a disaster."

Can "whole" suggest a collective?

Yes, e.g., "the whole team" might suggest the team as a collective unit.

Does "entire" always mean 100% of something?

Generally, yes. It indicates fullness or completeness.

Can "entire" be used with abstract concepts?

Yes, e.g., "the entire purpose" or "the entire reason."

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Author Spotlight

Written by

Fiza Rafique

Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

Edited by

Tayyaba Rehman

Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.