“Hole” or “Whole”—Which to use?

“Hole” or “Whole”

Overview

hole / whole are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

hole: (noun) an opening into or through something. (noun) an opening deliberately made in or through something. (noun) one playing period (from tee to green) on a golf course. (noun) an unoccupied space. (noun) a depression hollowed out of solid matter. (noun) a fault. (verb) hit the ball into the hole. (verb) make holes in.

whole: (noun) all of something including all its component elements or parts. (noun) an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity. (adjective) including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete. (adjective) (of siblings) having the same parents.

Pronunciation

hole: hh·OW·l

whole: hh·OW·l

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Examples in Context

Examples of “hole”

…installer bit is a transverse hole drilled through the web of…
…Film (2007) at the Jackson Hole Film Festival , the David…
My Life in a Hole in the Ground (On-U Sound,
…be threaded through this transverse hole, and the bit pulled back…
…ball to fall into a hole rather than knock down pins.
…a round plate with a hole in it, attached to a…
Sometimes an additional hole called nizam pardasi is made…
"Nan True's Hole" (Miller)
…loop of rope through a hole in the soap.
…player's snake exits through a hole to complete the level.

Examples of “whole”

…with which an annexation of whole Schleswig and Holstein to Denmark…
…common Danish constitution for the whole monarchy; it was little more…
…the name given to the whole complex of diplomatic and other…
…the Danish monarchy as a whole was to be made the…
…than integrating them into the whole".
…for a settlement of the whole question on the basis of…
…as essential parts of a whole, light and dark aspects of…
The whole affair was called the Easter…
…after Nazi Germany occupied the whole of Denmark, there was agitation…
…basis, with Austria's support, the whole matter might have been arranged…

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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