Entry 2 senses Webster, 1913 Wholly /hōl'-ē/ · Whol·ly · IPA /ˈhoʊ.li/ 01 adv. In a whole or complete manner; entirely; completely; perfectly. 1. In a whole or complete manner; entirely; completely; perfectly. “Nor wholly overcome, nor wholly yield.” — Dryden. 2. To the exclusion of other things; totally; fully. “They employed themselves wholly in domestic life.” — Addison.