as a whole
idiom
: as a complete unit
—used to make a statement that relates to all the parts of something
Language as a whole is constantly evolving.
The lecture was intended for the group as a whole.
The company as a whole is doing well.
Examples of as a whole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The effect the business deal will have on streaming services, theaters, and the entertainment industry as a whole is unknown.
—
Grace Hagerman, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
Flimsy rims don’t offer enough structural support to the sheet as a whole and can lead to warping.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
And at what looks like an inflection point, other romance authors — including Lana Ferguson, the author of the friends-to-lovers hockey romance The Final Score — are reflecting on what Heated Rivalry’s success could mean for the romance genre as a whole.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Some reasons for optimism The news industry as a whole is more than two decades in to a retrenchment caused largely by a collapse in the advertising market, and every year brings more reports of journalists laid off as a result.
—David Bauder, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for as a whole
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Grace Hagerman, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
Flimsy rims don’t offer enough structural support to the sheet as a whole and can lead to warping.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
And at what looks like an inflection point, other romance authors — including Lana Ferguson, the author of the friends-to-lovers hockey romance The Final Score — are reflecting on what Heated Rivalry’s success could mean for the romance genre as a whole.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Some reasons for optimism The news industry as a whole is more than two decades in to a retrenchment caused largely by a collapse in the advertising market, and every year brings more reports of journalists laid off as a result.
—David Bauder, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for as a whole
Cite this Entry
“As a whole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/as%20a%20whole. Accessed 5 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share