Quick Answer
The most useful synonyms of all depend on what all means in your sentence. For a complete group, use entire, whole, or complete. For each member, use every or each. For all things, use everything. For all people, use everyone. When all means “completely,” useful alternatives include completely, entirely, fully, totally, and wholly.
What Does “All” Mean?
Have you ever written a sentence several times and wondered how to avoid repetition?
The word all looks simple, but it has several meanings. It can describe a complete group, a complete amount, every member of a group, or a complete state. It can also work as a determiner, pronoun, or adverb.
For example:
- All students passed the test.
- She drank all the water.
- All of us agreed.
- He lives all alone.
These sentences do not use all in exactly the same way. That is why choosing a synonym requires more than finding another word in a thesaurus.
This guide explains the most useful synonyms of all, their grammar, CEFR levels, tone, frequency, collocations, differences, and common mistakes.
Pronunciation of All
American English: /ɑːl/
British English: /ɔːl/
Pronunciation: awl
The spelling is the same in American and British English, although the vowel sound differs slightly. Cambridge lists /ɑːl/ for US English and /ɔːl/ for UK English.
Part of Speech
All can function mainly as a:
- Determiner
- Pronoun
- Adverb
Cambridge classifies all as a determiner, predeterminer, and pronoun, while its grammar guide also explains its adverbial use.
As a determiner
It refers to a complete group or amount.
All students need practice.
All the money was spent.
As a pronoun
It can stand for people or things already understood.
All were ready.
I ate it all.
As an adverb
It can mean “completely” or, in informal English, “very.”
He was all alone.
She got all upset.
Cambridge specifically records this informal adverbial use.
Grammar: How to Use All Correctly
All + plural countable noun
All students must register.
All books were returned.
All + uncountable noun
All information must be checked.
All equipment is ready.
All + the/my/these/etc. + noun
All the students arrived.
All my friends agreed.
All these problems need attention.
You can often use all of in these definite noun phrases:
All of the students arrived.
All of my friends agreed.
Cambridge confirms that all and all of can be used before articles, possessives, and demonstratives.
All + pronoun
Use all of before object pronouns:
All of us agreed.
All of them arrived.
You can also put all after an object pronoun:
I invited them all.
She thanked us all.
Do not write:
❌ All them arrived.
Correct:
✅ All of them arrived.
All vs Every vs Each
This is one of the most important differences for English learners.
| Word | Main Focus | Example |
| All | Whole group | All students passed. |
| Every | Each member of a group | Every student passed. |
| Each | Individual members | Each student received feedback. |
Cambridge explains that all refers to a complete group, while every focuses on each member of that group.
Compare
All employees received the email.
The sentence looks at the employees as one complete group.
Every employee received the email.
The sentence highlights each employee.
Each employee received individual feedback.
The sentence strongly focuses on individual members.
Grammar rule
Use:
all + plural noun
All students
Use:
every + singular countable noun
Every student
Use:
each + singular countable noun
Each student
Do not write:
❌ Every students
❌ Each students
All vs Whole
All and whole often overlap, but their grammar is different.
All the students attended.
The whole class attended.
We normally use whole with a singular countable noun when referring to one complete unit.
I read the whole book.
We watched the whole movie.
Cambridge notes that whole can refer to a complete single thing, while all commonly refers to a complete group or amount.
With uncountable nouns, all is normally the natural choice:
All the information was useful.
Not:
❌ The whole information was useful.
Quick Synonyms of All
| Word | Main Sense | CEFR Guide | Register | Frequency |
| Whole | Complete unit | A2 | Neutral | Very common |
| Entire | Complete | B1 | Neutral/Formal | Common |
| Complete | Having every part | A2–B1 | Neutral | Very common |
| Total | Full amount | B1 | Neutral/Formal | Very common |
| Every | Each member | A1 | Neutral | Very common |
| Each | Individual member | A2 | Neutral | Very common |
| Everything | All things | A1 | Neutral | Very common |
| Everyone | All people | A1 | Neutral | Very common |
| Entirety | Complete whole | C1 | Formal | Common |
| Totality | Complete whole | C1–C2 | Academic | Uncommon |
| Fully | Completely | B1 | Neutral/Formal | Common |
| Completely | Entirely | B1 | Neutral | Very common |
| Entirely | Completely | B2 | Formal/Neutral | Common |
| Totally | Completely | B1 | Informal/Neutral | Very common |
| Wholly | Completely | C1 | Formal | Uncommon |
| Altogether | Completely/in total | B2 | Neutral | Common |
| Absolutely | Completely/without doubt | B1 | Neutral/Spoken | Very common |
| Thoroughly | Completely and carefully | B2 | Neutral/Formal | Common |
| Utterly | Completely | C1 | Formal/Literary | Uncommon |
| Every single | Every individual | B1 | Emphatic | Common |
CEFR levels are learning guidance rather than universal official classifications.
25 Useful Synonyms and Related Alternatives
1. Whole
Meaning: One complete thing or unit.
Examples:
- I read the whole book yesterday.
- She spent the whole morning studying.
Best Used When: You mean one complete thing, period, or unit.
Tone: Neutral
CEFR: A2
Frequency: Very common
Collocations:
- whole day
- whole book
- whole family
When Not to Use: Do not use whole as a direct replacement for all with every plural or uncountable noun.
2. Entire
Meaning: Including every part of something.
Examples:
- The entire team joined the meeting.
- She spent the entire weekend working.
Best Used When: You want to stress completeness.
Tone: Neutral/Formal
CEFR: B1
Frequency: Common
Collocations:
- entire family
- entire process
- entire country
Nuance: Entire often sounds more formal and precise than all.
3. Complete
Meaning: Having all the necessary parts.
Examples:
- We need a complete list of participants.
- The complete report is available online.
Best Used When: Something contains every required part.
Tone: Neutral
CEFR: A2–B1
Frequency: Very common
Collocations:
- complete list
- complete set
- complete guide
When Not to Use: Complete can also mean “finished,” so it does not replace all in every sentence.
4. Total
Meaning: The full amount or number.
Examples:
- The total cost was $350.
- The survey received a total of 800 responses.
Best Used When: You are discussing an amount, number, or calculated result.
Tone: Neutral/Formal
CEFR: B1
Frequency: Very common
Collocations:
- total cost
- total amount
- total number
Nuance: Merriam-Webster notes that total often suggests that everything has been counted, measured, or considered.
5. Every
Meaning: Each member of a complete group.
Examples:
- Every student received a worksheet.
- I check my email every morning.
Best Used When: You want to focus on each member or occurrence.
Tone: Neutral
CEFR: A1
Frequency: Very common
Collocations:
- every day
- every student
- every time
When Not to Use: Do not put a plural noun directly after every.
6. Each
Meaning: Every individual member of a group.
Examples:
- Each student chose a topic.
- Each room has a private bathroom.
Best Used When: Individual members matter.
Tone: Neutral
CEFR: A2
Frequency: Very common
Collocations:
- each person
- each student
- each one
Nuance: Each usually gives stronger individual focus than all.
7. Everything
Meaning: All things in a particular situation.
Examples:
- Everything is ready for the meeting.
- She packed everything before leaving.
Best Used When: You mean “all things.”
Tone: Neutral
CEFR: A1
Frequency: Very common
Collocations:
- everything else
- everything possible
- everything you need
When Not to Use: Use everyone when referring to people.
8. Everyone
Meaning: Every person in a group.
Examples:
- Everyone enjoyed the lesson.
- Everyone in the office received the message.
Best Used When: Referring to people.
Tone: Neutral
CEFR: A1
Frequency: Very common
Collocations:
- everyone agreed
- everyone knows
- everyone involved
When Not to Use: Do not use everyone for objects or ideas.
9. Entirety
Meaning: The whole of something.
Examples:
- The report was published in its entirety.
- We watched the documentary in its entirety.
Best Used When: Referring formally to a complete document, event, or work.
Tone: Formal
CEFR: C1
Frequency: Common
Collocations:
- in its entirety
- entirety of the document
- entirety of the agreement
When Not to Use: It may sound unnecessarily formal in everyday conversation.
10. Totality
Meaning: The complete whole of something.
Examples:
- The researchers considered the totality of the evidence.
- We must examine the totality of the circumstances.
Best Used When: Writing academically or formally about many parts considered together.
Tone: Academic/Formal
CEFR: C1–C2
Frequency: Uncommon
When Not to Use: Avoid it in simple everyday conversation when all or whole is clearer.
11. Fully
Meaning: Completely or to the greatest degree.
Examples:
- I fully understand the instructions.
- The building is fully accessible.
Best Used When: Modifying a verb or adjective.
Tone: Neutral/Formal
CEFR: B1
Frequency: Common
Collocations:
- fully aware
- fully prepared
- fully developed
12. Completely
Meaning: In every part or to the full degree.
Examples:
- The room was completely empty.
- The two plans are completely different.
Best Used When: You need a clear and strong adverb.
Tone: Neutral
CEFR: B1
Frequency: Very common
Collocations:
- completely different
- completely finished
- completely wrong
13. Entirely
Meaning: Completely or in every respect.
Examples:
- The decision was entirely yours.
- The results were entirely unexpected.
Best Used When: You want a more formal alternative to completely.
Tone: Formal/Neutral
CEFR: B2
Frequency: Common
Collocations:
- entirely different
- entirely possible
- entirely dependent
14. Totally
Meaning: Completely.
Examples:
- I totally understand your point.
- The two situations are totally different.
Best Used When: Conversational or informal writing needs emphasis.
Tone: Informal/Neutral
CEFR: B1
Frequency: Very common
When Not to Use: In formal academic writing, completely or entirely may be a better fit.
15. Wholly
Meaning: Completely.
Examples:
- The claim was wholly unsupported.
- The company is wholly owned by its parent group.
Best Used When: Formal writing needs a precise word for complete involvement or ownership.
Tone: Formal
CEFR: C1
Frequency: Uncommon
16. Altogether
Meaning: Completely or in total, depending on context.
Examples:
- The situation was altogether different.
- Altogether, we collected 120 responses.
Best Used When: Context clearly indicates either “completely” or “in total.”
Tone: Neutral/Formal
CEFR: B2
Frequency: Common
Important: Altogether and all together are different.
- Altogether = completely/in total
- All together = everyone or everything together
17. Absolutely
Meaning: Completely, or with strong certainty.
Examples:
- I absolutely agree with you.
- It is absolutely essential to check the figures.
Best Used When: You want strong emphasis.
Tone: Neutral/Spoken
CEFR: B1
Frequency: Very common
When Not to Use: It is not a general replacement for all before nouns.
18. Thoroughly
Meaning: Completely and carefully.
Examples:
- The report was thoroughly checked.
- The team thoroughly investigated the issue.
Best Used When: Completeness includes careful attention.
Tone: Neutral/Formal
CEFR: B2
Frequency: Common
Nuance: Thoroughly adds the idea of careful or detailed action.
19. Utterly
Meaning: Completely, often with strong emotion.
Examples:
- The decision was utterly unexpected.
- He was utterly exhausted.
Best Used When: Strong emotional or literary emphasis is appropriate.
Tone: Formal/Literary
CEFR: C1
Frequency: Uncommon
When Not to Use: Avoid it when a simple completely sounds more natural.
20. Every Single
Meaning: Every individual member, with strong emphasis.
Examples:
- She checked every single answer.
- Every single seat was occupied.
Best Used When: You want to emphasize that there were no exceptions.
Tone: Neutral/Emphatic
CEFR: B1
Frequency: Common
21. Each and Every
Meaning: Every individual member, with strong emphasis.
Examples:
- Each and every student received feedback.
- We checked each and every detail.
Best Used When: Strong emphasis is intentional.
Tone: Formal/Emphatic
CEFR: B1–B2
Frequency: Common
When Not to Use: It can sound heavy if repeated too often.
22. Every One Of
Meaning: Each individual member of a defined group.
Examples:
- Every one of the files was checked.
- Every one of the students passed.
Best Used When: You want to emphasize individual members of a specific group.
Tone: Neutral
CEFR: B1
Frequency: Common
Important: Every one is two words.
23. The Whole Lot
Meaning: The entire group or amount.
Examples:
- He sold the whole lot at the market.
- I threw the whole lot away.
Best Used When: Informal conversation refers to a complete group or collection.
Tone: Informal
CEFR: B2
Frequency: Common, especially in British English
24. Sum Total
Meaning: The complete amount after everything is combined.
Examples:
- The sum total of the expenses was $1,200.
- That was the sum total of our available resources.
Best Used When: Discussing a final calculated amount.
Tone: Formal
CEFR: C1
Frequency: Uncommon
25. Full
Meaning: Containing as much as possible or having no missing part in a particular context.
Examples:
- We need a full report before making a decision.
- The hotel was full by Friday evening.
Best Used When: Talking about completeness, capacity, or the complete version of something.
Tone: Neutral
CEFR: A2
Frequency: Very common
When Not to Use: Full has many meanings, so it is not interchangeable with all in most noun phrases.
Strongest Direct Alternatives by Meaning
Instead of memorizing 25 words, learn these core relationships.
When All Means “The Complete Group”
Use:
- all
- entire
- whole
- complete
Example:
All the team attended.
The entire team attended.
The whole team attended.
These are close, but the grammar and emphasis differ.
When All Means “Every Member”
Use:
- every
- each
- every single
- each and every
Example:
All students received a certificate.
Every student received a certificate.
When All Means “All Things”
Use:
- everything
- the whole lot
- the entirety, in formal contexts
When All Means “All People”
Use:
- everyone
- everybody
- every one of them
When All Means “Completely”
Use:
- completely
- entirely
- fully
- totally
- wholly
- altogether
- absolutely
- utterly
Choose the Right Synonym
| If you mean… | Best choice | Why |
| Complete group | all | Natural general choice |
| One complete thing | whole | Focuses on one unit |
| Complete without exception | entire | Strong completeness |
| Every required part | complete | Focuses on parts |
| Calculated amount | total | Suggests counting or measuring |
| Each member | every | Distributes across members |
| Individual member | each | Strong individual focus |
| All things | everything | Refers to things |
| All people | everyone | Refers to people |
| Completely | completely | Clear adverb |
| Formal “completely” | entirely | More formal tone |
| Complete and careful | thoroughly | Adds carefulness |
| Strong literary “completely” | utterly | Strong emotional force |
Merriam-Webster makes a similar distinction among all, entire, total, and whole: total can suggest counting or measurement, while whole emphasizes that nothing has been omitted.
Common Mistakes With All
Mistake 1
❌ Every students passed.
✅ Every student passed.
Why: Every takes a singular countable noun.
Mistake 2
❌ Each students received a book.
✅ Each student received a book.
Why: Each normally takes a singular countable noun.
Mistake 3
❌ All of students passed.
✅ All students passed.
Why: Before an indefinite plural noun, use all, not normally all of.
Cambridge confirms this distinction.
Mistake 4
❌ All them agreed.
✅ All of them agreed.
Why: Use all of the before object pronouns.
Mistake 5
❌ Every information is important.
✅ All the information is important.
Why: Information is uncountable, so everyone does not normally modify it.
Cambridge specifically lists this as a common learner error.
Mistake 6
❌ I read all a book.
✅ I read the whole book.
Why: We do not normally put all before a/an + singular countable noun. Cambridge recommends a whole in this structure.
All vs Everyone vs Everything
This is another important learner distinction.
All
All were invited.
This can refer to people or things depending on context.
Everyone
Everyone was invited.
This specifically means all people.
Everything
Everything was ready.
This refers to all relevant things.
Simple memory trick:
everyONE = people
everyTHING = things
American vs British English
The basic meaning and spelling of all are the same in American and British English.
Pronunciation
US: /ɑːl/
UK: /ɔːl/
Cambridge lists both pronunciations.
Related spelling difference
Some expressions use regional spelling:
- American English: all around
- British English: all round
Oxford identifies all around as North American English and all round as British English in one of its uses.
The word all itself has no American/British spelling difference.
Register Guide
| Word | Register | Natural Example |
| All | Neutral | All students attended. |
| Whole | Neutral | The whole team arrived. |
| Entire | Neutral/Formal | The entire process changed. |
| Complete | Neutral | We need a complete report. |
| Total | Formal/Neutral | The total cost increased. |
| Every | Neutral | Every student participated. |
| Each | Neutral | Each student answered. |
| Everyone | Neutral | Everyone agreed. |
| Everything | Neutral | Everything is ready. |
| Totally | Informal | I totally understand. |
| Completely | Neutral | The room was completely empty. |
| Entirely | Formal | The decision was entirely yours. |
| Wholly | Formal | The claim was wholly unsupported. |
| Utterly | Literary/Formal | The result was utterly unexpected. |
Word Origin and First Recorded History
The word all is very old.
Etymonline traces it to Old English eall, meaning “every,” “entire,” or “the whole quantity.” It also had an adverbial meaning similar to “fully” or “wholly.” The word comes from Proto-Germanic *alnaz is related to words in other Germanic languages.
Oxford also identifies the word as Old English all/eall and describes its origin as Germanic, with related forms in Dutch and German.
Historical timeline
- Old English: eall
- Middle English: al/all
- Modern English: all
Etymonline records several later expressions containing all, including at all from the mid-14th century and all but from the 1590s.
So, rather than being a recent everyday shortcut, it has been part of English vocabulary for many centuries.
CEFR Learning Guide
For learners, a useful progression is:
A1
Start with:
- all
- every
- everyone
- everything
A2
Add:
- each
- whole
- complete
- full
B1
Learn:
- total
- fully
- completely
- totally
- every single
B2
Add:
- entirely
- altogether
- thoroughly
- each and every
C1–C2
Explore:
- entirety
- totality
- wholly
- utterly
The exact CEFR classification can vary by dictionary and learning framework, so treat this as a practical study guide rather than a fixed rule.
Collocations Native Speakers Commonly Use
Learning collocations can help you sound more natural.
With All
- all day
- all night
- all the time
- all the way
- all students
- all information
- all the details
- all of us
With Entire
- entire family
- entire process
- entire country
- entire year
With Whole
- whole day
- whole book
- whole family
- whole story
With Total
- total cost
- total number
- total amount
- total loss
With Completely
- completely different
- completely finished
- completely wrong
- completely empty
With Fully
- fully aware
- fully prepared
- fully developed
- fully equipped
With Entirely
- entirely possible
- entirely different
- entirely dependent
- entirely responsible
These combinations are often more useful to learners than simply memorizing isolated synonyms.
Related Expressions With All
The word all appears in many fixed expressions.
All in all
Meaning: considering everything together.
All in all, the trip was successful.
After all
Meaning: despite what was previously expected, or because something should be remembered.
She passed after all.
At all
Often used in negative sentences or questions for emphasis.
I don’t understand it at all.
All along
Meaning: from the beginning.
She knew the answer all along.
All but
Meaning “almost” in one common use.
The project was all but finished.
Above all
Meaning: more importantly than anything else.
Above all, stay safe.
These expressions should be learned as complete phrases because their meanings cannot always be predicted by simply replacing all with a synonym.
Antonyms of All
The opposite depends on the context.
For quantity
- none
- no
- zero
For completeness
- partial
- incomplete
- limited
For every member
- some
- few
- certain
For “completely”
- partly
- partially
- incompletely
There is no single antonym that works in every sentence.
Mini Practice
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank
Choose all, every, each, whole, or entire.
- ______ student must complete the form.
- I watched the ______ movie last night.
- ______ employees received the announcement.
- ______ employee received a personal message.
- She spent the ______ afternoon reading.
Answers
- Every
- whole
- All
- Each
- entire/whole
Exercise 2: Choose the Better Word
Sentence 1
I read the ______ book.
A. every
B. whole
C. each
D. everyone
Answer: B. whole
Sentence 2
______ student received a certificate.
A. Every
B. Whole
C. Everything
D. Entire
Answer: A. Every
Sentence 3
The ______ cost was $500.
A. each
B. every
C. total
D. everyone
Answer: C. total
Sentence Rewriting Practice
Replace the repeated word with a more precise alternative.
Original
All students read all the chapters.
Possible revision
Every student read the entire set of chapters.
Another example
Original:
All the team stayed for the whole meeting.
Better:
The whole team stayed for the entire meeting.
Notice that the goal is not to replace everything. The goal is to choose the word that expresses the intended meaning naturally.
Quick Memory Guide
If you remember only five rules, remember these:
ALL + plural noun
All students
EVERY + singular noun
Every student
EACH + singular noun
Each student
WHOLE + singular defined thing
The whole book
COMPLETELY + adjective/verb idea
Completely different
This small pattern can prevent many common English errors.
FAQ
What are the best synonyms of all?
The best synonym depends on the meaning. Whole, entire, complete, and total can describe completeness. Each and every focus on members of a group. Everything refers to things, while everyone refers to people. Completely, entirely, and fully can replace all when it means “completely.”
What is another word for all?
Common alternatives include whole, entire, complete, total, every, each, everything, everyone, and fully. However, these words do not have identical grammar. The correct choice depends on whether it describes a group, amount, individual members, things, people, or a complete state.
What is the difference between all and every?
All refers to a complete group collectively, while every focuses on individual members of that group. For example, all students passed views the students as a group, while every student passed emphasizes each student. Grammar also differs because every normally takes a singular countable noun.
What is the difference between all and each?
All normally view members collectively, while each gives individual focus. Compare all employees received training with each employee received individual feedback. Both can describe the same group, but each draws attention to the members one at a time.
What is the difference between all and whole?
All commonly describes a complete group or amount, while whole often describes one complete countable thing or unit. We say all the information but usually the whole book. Cambridge documents these different patterns in its grammar guidance.
Is everyone the same as all?
Not always. Everyone specifically refers to people, while all can refer to people, things, amounts, or groups. For example, everyone agreed means all people agreed, but all the documents were ready refers to things.
Is everything a synonym for all?
Everything is a sense-specific alternative when all means “all things.” For example, I packed everything and can express the same basic idea as I packed it all. But everything cannot replace all before a noun, as in all students.
Is it totally a synonym for all?
Only in specific adverbial contexts. Totally means “completely,” so I totally agree it is natural. It cannot replace all in all students attended. In other words, it totally matches one meaning of all, not every meaning.
What is the formal synonym of all?
Depending on context, formal alternatives include entire, complete, total, entirety, totality, entirely, and wholly. The most appropriate choice depends on the noun and intended meaning. Formal vocabulary should improve precision rather than simply make a sentence sound more complicated.
Conclusion
The best way to learn synonyms of all is to learn them by meaning rather than memorize a long word list. Use every or each for individual members, whole or entire for complete units, total for calculated amounts, everyone for people, everything for things, and completely or entirely when all means “completely.”
Practice these differences in essays, emails, conversations, and professional writing. Once you understand the grammar behind each word, your vocabulary becomes more precise and your English sounds more natural.
Trusted References
- Cambridge Dictionary and English Grammar Today
- Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
- Collins English Thesaurus
- Thesaurus.com
- Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
- Etymonline, all etymology
Synonorm is a trusted English vocabulary resource created to help readers find the right words and understand the differences between similar terms. We provide clear explanations of synonyms, meanings, examples, usage, and alternatives. Our content makes vocabulary easier to learn and apply in everyday, academic, and professional English. Synonorm is designed for students, writers, ESL learners, professionals, and anyone who wants to improve their English vocabulary and communicate more clearly.
