on the whole — Considering everything; taking all things into account; generally speaking.
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: Considering everything; taking all things into account; generally speaking.
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɑn ðə hoʊl/
Example Sentences
- On the whole, my cat is well-behaved, except when she decides to knock everything off the table at 3 AM.
- On the whole, the civil service exam was fair, though I definitely blanked on one question.
- On the whole, I'd say this restaurant deserves five stars, minus the incident with the soup.
on the whole
ADVERB[/ɑn ðə hoʊl/]
Considering everything; taking all things into account; generally speaking.
On the whole, the school festival went smoothly despite a few small hiccups.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From the phrase 'on the whole matter', where 'whole' derives from Old English 'hal' meaning healthy or complete.
Breakdown
on (regarding) + the (the specific) + whole (entire/complete) = considering the entirety
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“On the whole, my cat is well-behaved, except when she decides to knock everything off the table at 3 AM.”
“On the whole, the civil service exam was fair, though I definitely blanked on one question.”
“On the whole, I'd say this restaurant deserves five stars, minus the incident with the soup.”
“On the whole, the economy showed signs of steady growth this year.”
📚Related Words
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