basically

adverb

ba·​si·​cal·​ly ˈbā-si-k(ə-)lē 

 also  -zi-

1

a

: at a basic level : in fundamental disposition or nature

basically correct

basically, they are simple people

b

: for the most part

they basically play zone defense

2

: in a basic manner : simply

live basically

Synonyms

• altogether
• by and large
• chiefly
• generally
• largely
• mainly
• mostly
• overall
• predominantly
• primarily
• principally
• substantially

Examples of basically in a Sentence

your answer is basically correct

Recent Examples on the Web

But, once, as Ken was giving his prognosis for an upcoming local election (perilous, basically), Walter stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, squeezing both sides of his bag. —Bryan Washington, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2024

Mistake: Bulky hydration accessories Pack this instead: A collapsible water bottle $9 at Amazon Water is basically free almost anywhere in the U.S., but that’s definitely not the case in Europe. —Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2024

Square defines late night as 7pm or later, so basically the same way your mom (and Karri) does. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 6 Sep. 2024

The same is true for many of the ex-Vice staffers who Huang interviews here, most of whom are positioned on couches or lawn chairs in order to disguise how this is basically a documentary full of people sitting on stools. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1a