utterly

adverb

ut·​ter·​ly ˈə-tər-lē How to pronounce utterly (audio)
: to an absolute or extreme degree : to the full extent : in an utter manner : absolutely, entirely, totally
Just when you're expecting to hear something trite or ordinary, Rich invents a tasty, utterly charming piece of ear candy.Carol Cooper
Whatever this stuff is, it comprises as much as 90% of the mass of the universe. It is also utterly invisible.M. Mitchell Waldrop
… a fascinating read, despite the fact that its unique tone is utterly lost in translation.Ian Buruma
Cut off utterly from her past, but socially unacceptable in this new world, Irene chooses the same refuge that's worked for her as a child: poetry.Sue Miller

Examples of utterly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Her delivery sounds both idiosyncratic and effortless, burrowing into turns of phrase and emphasizing unexpected syllables in ways at once subtle and utterly revelatory. Alex Swhear, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 Róisín Pierce Courtesy of Róisín Pierce Though this Irish designer technically doesn’t bill herself as a bridal designer, Róisín Pierce’s utterly gorgeous, textural handmade dresses shouldn’t be overlooked in this category—especially given her partiality to the color white. Laura Neilson, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 The point of their little love triangle, the hottie Aaron (Joseph Torres) seems utterly generic. Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 In the future, though, all of this might become the utterly unremarkable standard of care. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024 Social work is about dynamic, unpredictable and utterly unique things — humans. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 After heavy rain had delayed the start of the match, Sinner took the opening set 6-1, seeming utterly dominant, winning four consecutive games and facing just one break point. Issy Ronald, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 This humble ingredient utterly transforms wheat-less recipes, especially bread. March 15, 2024 All products are independently selected by our editors. Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2024 American Fiction hits the mark on so many levels without losing its heart, hitting us over the head with its message, or ever being anything but utterly entertaining. Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'utterly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of utterly was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near utterly

Cite this Entry

“Utterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utterly. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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