virtually

adverb

vir·​tu·​al·​ly ˈvər-chə-wə-lē 

-chə-lē;

ˈvərch-wə-lē

1

a

: almost entirely : nearly

The project is virtually complete.

Virtually every applicant was overqualified for the job.

b

: for all practical purposes

She was virtually unknown prior to starring in the film.

It is virtually impossible to know the truth of the matter.

2

: by means of a computer or computer network : in a virtual location

The meeting is being held virtually.

They did all their shopping virtually.

Synonyms of virtually

• practically
• almost
• nearly

Examples of virtually in a Sentence

We spent virtually all day shopping.

The stadium was virtually empty by the time the game ended.

I remember virtually everything he said.

That illness is virtually unknown in this area.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet meaningful change has been slow to materialize, souring views of Starmer’s premiership and inflicting heavy losses on the Labour Party in local government elections in May, which virtually sealed his fate. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 23 June 2026

Ronaldo, who played the entire game, was virtually absent. — Russell Lewis, NPR, 22 June 2026

The plant-like organisms are found in virtually every type of body of water including lakes, Reflecting Pools, cat water dispensers, and more. — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

Moreover, although virtually unseen at the time, technological advances were beginning to unlock the oil lodged in very dense shale rocks, something that petroleum textbooks had previously said was commercially impossible. — Daniel Yergin, Time, 20 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b