utterly

Utterly is an adverb meaning completely or absolutely, used to intensify a following adjective, participle, or another adverb. It signals total extent or degree and can appear across registers, from literary prose to everyday speech, often conveying a strong or emphatic tone.

Origins lie in the Old English utter, meaning outermost or farthest, with the -ly suffix forming the adverb. The sense of total extremity developed over time, yielding the common usage utterly + adjective or participle.

Usage and nuance: utterly typically precedes adjectives or participles, as in utterly exhausted, utterly fascinated, or utterly ridiculous. It is stronger than completely or totally and tends to carry a more formal or emphatic feel, though it is also found in contemporary dialogue. It is often used with negative or strongly evaluative phrases, as in “utterly unacceptable” or “utterly without merit.”

Synonyms and distinctions: common substitutes include absolutely, completely, totally, and wholly. Utterly emphasizes totality and intensity and can sound more dramatic or uncompromising than the other options, which may be more flexible or colloquial depending on context.

Pronunciation and forms: utter-ly is typically pronounced as /ˈʌtərli/ in many varieties of English. As an adverb, it does not take the usual comparative or superlative forms; its degree is conveyed through surrounding wording rather than inflection.

See also: intensifier, adverb of degree, English grammar.