What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Mostly vs Completely - What's the difference?

mostly | completely |

As adverbs the difference between mostly and completely

is that mostly is mainly or chiefly; for the most part; usually, generally, on the whole while completely is (manner) in a complete manner; fully; totally; utterly.

mostly

English

Alternative forms

* mostlie (obsolete) * moastly (obsolete)

Adverb

(-)
  • Mainly or chiefly; for the most part; usually, generally, on the whole.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=72-3, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= A punch in the gut , passage=Mostly , the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.}}
  • (obsolete) To the greatest extent; most.
  • * 1817 , , Northanger Abbey , [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=mDUbXHRIbRIC&dq=northanger+abbey+search+austen&pg=PP1&ots=EDH1Xu36el&sig=J7fVUwXmydAD36S8oLTWv2-ICNk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA163,M1]:
  • She was to be their chosen visitor, she was to be for weeks under the same roof with the person whose society she mostly prized [...]!

    Synonyms

    * (mainly or chiefly) by and large, in the main, more often than not

    completely

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (manner) In a complete manner; fully; totally; utterly.
  • * 1851 , (Herman Melville), , Chapter 70,
  • It should not have been omitted that previous to completely stripping the body of the leviathan, he was beheaded.
  • * 1899 , (Kate Chopin), , Chapter XIX,
  • She completely abandoned her Tuesdays at home, and did not return the visits of those who had called upon her.
  • * 1969 , E.R. Zumwalt, Jr., ,
  • Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY immediately maneuvered his craft through several strafing runs which completely silenced the enemy.
  • (degree) To the fullest extent or degree; totally.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding.}}
  • * 1968 June 8, ,
  • Our future may lie beyond our vision, but it is not completely beyond our control.
  • * 1975 , (Helen Schucman), '', Lesson 75: ''The light has come ,
  • Keep a completely open mind, washed of all past ideas and clean of every concept you have made.

    Synonyms

    * See also