wholly

Compared meaning: completely, totally (adverb).

比较义项：完全，全然（副词）。

• all

  Informal intensifier placed right before an adjective or past participle, showing a resulting state ('all wet', 'all alone'); rarely used before a verb, and it also has a separate quantifier sense ('every one'), not compared here.

  口语化、非正式的加强语气词，紧接在形容词或过去分词前，表示某种结果状态（如 all wet 浑身湿透、all alone 孤零零一个人）；很少用在动词前；另外还有一个不作比较的量词义，表示“全部，每一个”。

  The dog came in from the rain, all wet and shivering.

  那只狗从雨中跑进屋里，浑身湿透，瑟瑟发抖。

• entirely

  Neutral-to-formal adverb that modifies verbs or adjectives ('changed entirely', 'entirely different'); common in both speech and writing, without the casual feel of all.

  语域中性偏正式的副词，可修饰动词或形容词（如 changed entirely 完全改变、entirely different 完全不同）；在口语和书面语中都常见，不像 all 那样带有随意的口语色彩。

  The city's skyline changed entirely within just ten years.

  这座城市的天际线在短短十年内完全改变了。

• altogether

  Emphasizes a complete change in kind, often placed after the noun phrase it modifies ('a different room altogether'); also has a common, separate meaning 'in total', not compared here.

  强调整体性质上的彻底改变，常放在其修饰的名词短语之后（如 a different room altogether 完全是另一个房间）；另外还有一个常见的、不作比较的意思，表示“总共”。

  The renovated kitchen felt like a different room altogether.

  翻新后的厨房感觉完全是另一个房间了。

• wholly 本词

  Formal, often written, legal or business register; strongly collocates with words like 'owned', 'responsible', and 'due to'; rarely heard in casual conversation.

  正式语域，多见于书面语、法律或商业语境；常与 owned（拥有）、responsible（负责）、due to（归因于）等词搭配；口语中很少使用。

  The final decision was wholly the responsibility of the board.

  最终决定完全是董事会的责任。

All, entirely, altogether, and wholly all mean completely. All is informal, placed before an adjective, as in all wet. Entirely is neutral, modifying verbs or adjectives. Altogether stresses a complete change in kind, placed after a noun. Wholly is most formal, common in legal writing.

这四个词在“完全、全然”这一意义上很接近，但语域和搭配不同：all 多用于口语，常直接修饰形容词或分词（如 all wet、all alone）；entirely 语域中性偏正式，可修饰动词或形容词；altogether 强调整体性质上的彻底改变，常放在名词短语之后；wholly 语域最正式，多见于书面语、法律或商业语境。这里不比较 all 表示“全部，每一个”的量词用法，也不比较 altogether 表示“总共”的用法。