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Meaning & use

hundred percent

adverb, noun, interjection·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌhʌndrəd pəˈsent/
US/ˌhʌndrəd pərˈsent/

Meanings

  1. adverbinformal

    Completely or entirely, with no doubt or exception.

    Grammar: Usually written as 'a hundred percent' or 'one hundred percent' and used after a verb: I agree a hundred percent.

    Patterns

    • a hundred percent
    • one hundred percent

    I'm a hundred percent sure I locked the door before we left.

    She supported the plan a hundred percent, even when others doubted it.

  2. nounsingularinformal

    The whole of something, with nothing left out, as a number or amount.

    Grammar: Used with 'a' or 'one': a hundred percent of the profits. Not used with a plural verb.

    Patterns

    • a hundred percent of something

    He gave a hundred percent of the credit to his team.

    A hundred percent of the money raised goes directly to the school.

  3. interjectioninformal

    Used to agree strongly with what someone has said.

    Grammar: Said as a short reply, often at the start of a sentence: A hundred percent, that's exactly right.

    A hundred percent! I couldn't have said it better myself.

    "Are you coming to the party?" "A hundred percent!"

Common combinations

a hundred percent sure
I'm not a hundred percent sure about the date, so let me check.
a hundred percent agree
I a hundred percent agree with your decision.
give a hundred percent
She always gives a hundred percent in every match.
a hundred percent effort
The coach asked for a hundred-percent effort from everyone.

Synonyms and how they differ

totally
More neutral and slightly more formal; 'totally' can also mean 'very' in informal speech, which 'a hundred percent' does not.
completely
A neutral, formal option that fits writing as well as speech; 'a hundred percent' is more conversational.
absolutely
Often used as a strong reply like 'a hundred percent', but it can also mean 'certainly' in many other contexts.

Commonly confused: hundred percent or percent?

hundred percent vs percent

Percent is the unit (e.g., 50 percent), while 'a hundred percent' is a phrase meaning 'completely' or 'all of it'. Don't drop 'a' or 'one' in the phrase.

Practice

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