If several amounts add up to a particular amount altogether, that amount is their total. Britain has a dozen warships in the area, with a total of five thousand military personnel altogether. in the altogether not wearing any clothes - used humorously
emphasis You use altogether in front of an adjective or adverb to emphasize a quality that someone or something has. The choice of language is altogether different Today's celebrations have been altogether more sedate
You can use altogether to introduce a summary of what you have been saying. Altogether, it was a delightful town garden, peaceful and secluded
with everything included or counted; "altogether he earns close to a million dollars
emphasis You use altogether to emphasize that something has stopped, been done, or finished completely. When Artie stopped calling altogether, Julie found a new man His tour may have to be cancelled altogether
You use altogether to modify a negative statement and make it less forceful. We were not altogether sure that the comet would miss the Earth