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"
"she felt right at home"
"he fell right into the trap"
without any others being included or involved
"was entirely to blame"
"a school devoted entirely to the needs of problem children"
"he works for Mr. Smith exclusively"
"did it solely for money"
"the burden of proof rests on the prosecution alone"
"a privilege granted only to him"
To the full or entire extent.
"The storm entirely destroyed our summer harvest, leaving not a single bushel of corn in the field."
In plain English: Entirely means completely or totally without any part left out.
"The entire project is finished entirely by the deadline."
Usage: Use entirely to mean completely or totally when emphasizing that something has happened to the full extent without exception. Place it directly before adjectives, adverbs, or verbs to stress absolute completeness.
The word entirely comes from Middle English and is formed by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective entire. It has retained its original meaning of being completely whole or undivided since it entered the language.