Whole vs. Hole: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 27, 2023
Key Differences
"Whole" denotes completeness or entirety, often used to describe something that is unbroken or undivided. In contrast, "Hole" refers to a void or gap, typically an opening in a surface or material.
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Dec 27, 2023
The concept of "Whole" implies integrity and unity, as in a whole piece of fruit, signifying that nothing is missing. "Hole," however, suggests absence or a space where something might be missing, like a hole in a sock.
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Dec 27, 2023
In mathematics and science, "Whole" can represent a total quantity or the sum of all parts. Meanwhile, "Hole" is used to describe a physical absence, such as a black hole in space.
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Metaphorically, "Whole" can describe a complete and undiminished state, as in feeling whole. Conversely, "Hole" might metaphorically represent a deficiency or lack, such as a hole in one's heart.
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Dec 27, 2023
In everyday language, "Whole" often implies something is intact or in one piece, suggesting stability and continuity. On the other hand, "Hole" is used to describe a problem or deficiency, like a hole in an argument.
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Dec 27, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Metaphorical Use
Represents completeness, fulfillment
Represents lack, missing part
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Contextual Examples
A whole pie, feeling whole
A hole in clothing, black hole
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Dec 27, 2023
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Whole and Hole Definitions
Hole
A hollow place in a solid body or surface
She found a hole in her sweater.
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Hole
A hollowed place in something solid; a cavity or pit
Dug a hole in the ground with a shovel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
An opening or perforation
A hole in the clouds.
Had a hole in the elbow of my sweater.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
(Sports) An opening in a defensive formation, such as the area of a baseball infield between two adjacent fielders.
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Oct 19, 2023
Whole
Constituting the full amount, extent, or duration
The baby cried the whole trip home.
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Whole
Not wounded, injured, or impaired; sound or unhurt
Many escaped the fire frightened but whole.
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Whole
A number, group, set, or thing lacking no part or element; a complete thing.
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Whole
An entity or system made up of interrelated parts
The value of the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
(Physics) A vacant position in an atom left by the absence of a valence electron, especially a position in a semiconductor that acts as a carrier of positive electric charge. Also called electron hole.
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Whole
Used as an intensifier.
I brought a whole lot of balloons for the party.
She ate a whole bunch of french fries.
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Oct 19, 2023
Whole
Sound, uninjured, healthy.
He is of whole mind, but the same cannot be said about his physical state.
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Oct 19, 2023
Whole
(of food) From which none of its constituents has been removed.
Whole wheat; whole milk
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Hole
A hollow place or cavity; an excavation; a pit; a dent; a depression; a fissure.
I made a blind hole in the wall for a peg.
I dug a hole and planted a tree in it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
An opening that goes all the way through a solid body, a fabric, etc.; a perforation; a rent.
There’s a hole in my shoe.
Her stocking has a hole in it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Whole
Something complete, without any parts missing.
This variety of fascinating details didn't fall together into an enjoyable, coherent whole.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
(golf) A subsurface standard-size hole, also called cup, hitting the ball into which is the object of play. Each hole, of which there are usually eighteen as the standard on a full course, is located on a prepared surface, called the green, of a particular type grass.
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Whole
Containing the total amount, number, etc.; comprising all the parts; free from deficiency; all; total; entire; as, the whole earth; the whole solar system; the whole army; the whole nation.
The whole race of mankind.
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Hole
(golf) The part of a game in which a player attempts to hit the ball into one of the holes.
I played 18 holes yesterday.
The second hole today cost me three strokes over par.
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Oct 19, 2023
Whole
Complete; entire; not defective or imperfect; not broken or fractured; unimpaired; uninjured; integral; as, a whole orange; the egg is whole; the vessel is whole.
My life is yet whole in me.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
(baseball) The rear portion of the defensive team between the shortstop and the third baseman.
The shortstop ranged deep into the hole to make the stop.
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Oct 19, 2023
Whole
Possessing, or being in a state of, heath and soundness; healthy; sound; well.
[She] findeth there her friends hole and sound.
They that be whole need not a physician.
When Sir Lancelot's deadly hurt was whole.
All the whole army stood agazed on him.
One entire and perfect chrysolite.
Lest total darkness should by night regainHer old possession, and extinguish life.
So absolute she seems,And in herself complete.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
(chess) A square on the board, with some positional significance, that a player does not, and cannot in future, control with a friendly pawn.
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Whole
The entire thing; the entire assemblage of parts; totality; all of a thing, without defect or exception; a thing complete in itself.
"This not the whole of life to live,Nor all of death to die.
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Hole
(stud poker) A card (also called a hole card) dealt face down thus unknown to all but its holder; the status in which such a card is.
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Whole
A regular combination of parts; a system.
Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
In the game of fives, part of the floor of the court between the step and the pepperbox.
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Oct 19, 2023
Whole
All of something including all its component elements or parts;
Europe considered as a whole
The whole of American literature
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Whole
An assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity;
How big is that part compared to the whole?
The team is a unit
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
(figuratively) A weakness; a flaw or ambiguity.
I have found a hole in your argument.
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Oct 19, 2023
Whole
Including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete;
Gave his whole attention
A whole wardrobe for the tropics
The whole hog
A whole week
The baby cried the whole trip home
A whole loaf of bread
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
(physics) In semiconductors, a lack of an electron in an occupied band behaving like a positively charged particle.
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Whole
Exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health;
Hale and hearty
Whole in mind and body
A whole person again
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Hole
(computing) A security vulnerability in software which can be taken advantage of by an exploit.
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Whole
To a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly');
He was wholly convinced
Entirely satisfied with the meal
It was completely different from what we expected
Was completely at fault
A totally new situation
The directions were all wrong
It was not altogether her fault
An altogether new approach
A whole new idea
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
An orifice, in particular the anus. When used with shut it always refers to the mouth.
Just shut your hole!
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Hole
Solitary confinement, a high-security prison cell often used as punishment.
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Hole
(slang) An undesirable place to live or visit.
His apartment is a hole!
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
(figurative) Difficulty, in particular, debt.
If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
A passing loop; a siding provided for trains traveling in opposite directions on a single-track line to pass each other.
We’re supposed to take the hole at Cronk and wait for the Limited to pass.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
(transitive) To make holes in (an object or surface).
Shrapnel holed the ship's hull.
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Hole
(transitive) To drive into a hole, as an animal, or a billiard ball or golf ball.
Woods holed a standard three foot putt
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
(transitive) To cut, dig, or bore a hole or holes in.
To hole a post for the insertion of rails or bars
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
A hollow place or cavity; an excavation; a pit; an opening in or through a solid body, a fabric, etc.; a perforation; a rent; a fissure.
The holes where eyes should be.
The blind wallsWere full of chinks and holes.
The priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
An excavation in the ground, made by an animal to live in, or a natural cavity inhabited by an animal; hence, a low, narrow, or dark lodging or place; a mean habitation.
The foxes have holes, . . . but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
A small cavity used in some games, usually one into which a marble or ball is to be played or driven; hence, a score made by playing a marble or ball into such a hole, as in golf.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
To cut, dig, or bore a hole or holes in; as, to hole a post for the insertion of rails or bars.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
One playing period (from tee to green) on a golf course;
He played 18 holes
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Oct 19, 2023
Hole
Informal terms for a difficult situation;
He got into a terrible fix
He made a muddle of his marriage
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can "whole" be used figuratively?
Yes, to indicate fullness or completeness.
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Dec 27, 2023
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Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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