on the whole Definition

whole
noun

1. All the constituents or components of something.

Example: He ate the whole of it
Example: the whole of the time
Thesaurus: all, everything.
2. Something complete in itself, especially something consisting of integrated parts.

Thesaurus: entirety, entity, total, aggregate, lot, unit, Gestalt.

adj

1. Comprising all of something; no less than the whole; entire.

Example: The concert lasted four whole hours
Example: The whole street heard you
Thesaurus: complete, full, intact, total, unabridged, uncut, integral, perfect.
2. In one piece.

Example: swallowed it whole
3. Unbroken.

Example: only two cups left whole
4. Said of food: processed as little as possible.
5. colloq
Huge; vast.
Example: a whole pile of work to do
6. old use
Healthy; well.
Example: the miracle that made him whole
7. Said of a sister or brother: having both parents in common.

adverb

1. colloq
Completely; altogether; wholly.
Example: found a whole new approach

Derivative: wholeness
noun

Idiom: a whole lot

colloq
A great deal.
Example: I feel a whole lot better

Idiom: as a whole

In general; taken as a complete group, etc rather than as individuals.

Idiom: go the whole hog

See under hog.

Idiom: on the whole

Considering everything.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon hal healthy.