essentially

adverb

es·​sen·​tial·​ly i-ˈsen(t)-shə-lē How to pronounce essentially (audio)
-ˈsench-lē
: in essence : fundamentally
used to identify or stress the basic or essential character or nature of a person or thing or to say that a description is basically true or accurate
He's essentially a good man.
… painting, essentially a two-dimensional art …Herbert Read
The fact that so many bloggers are essentially anonymous allows them to spew rancor, rumor, lies, and obscenities.Gil Troy
Aphids feed on the sugary phloem of plants. Essentially they steal the product of photosynthesis.Caleb Rounds

Examples of essentially in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The argument across these different domains is essentially the same: The time for AI skepticism has come and gone. Nir Eisikovits, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024 The Google researchers wanted to see if measurements taken from receivers in Android phones could essentially replicate the ionosphere mapping that occurs in more advanced monitoring stations. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024 The wording differed slightly, but the message was essentially the same. Nbc Los Angeles, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024 The relocation and gentrification of the people experiencing homelessness right now is essentially putting a Band-Aid on the bullet wound that is the housing situation of the Bay Area. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for essentially 

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of essentially was in 1774

Dictionary Entries Near essentially

Cite this Entry

“Essentially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essentially. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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