hypothetically

adverb

hy·​po·​thet·​i·​cal·​ly ˌhī-pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

: by making an assumption for the sake of discussion or argument : in a hypothetical way

speaking hypothetically

In this lucid report … he uses genetic differences, maps, computer simulations and an analysis of linguistic changes in the world's languages to hypothetically reconstruct the mass migrations of people across continents since modern humans first appeared.

—Genevieve Stuttaford

We asked ourselves hypothetically: If the chairmen of the boards of these major tobacco companies walked in here today and said, "Okay, we're ready to do a deal," what did we want?

—Lewis H. Lapham

—used to suggest what is theoretically possible

Hypothetically, you could use a computer to synthesize a large number of harmonics, add them back together, and reproduce a sound similar to that of the bowed violin string.

—Dragan Huterer

Examples of hypothetically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Earlier today, however, backup point guard José Alvarado was asked hypothetically about a White House visit. —Tom Tapp, Deadline, 17 June 2026

That would hypothetically leave room for one more. —Mike Defabo, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Boston, hypothetically, could offer six-time All-Star guard Jaylen Brown for Antetokounmpo. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026

His mother Kate's alma matter, however, is Marlborough College—a co-ed institution that all three Wales children could hypothetically attend. —Emma Banks, InStyle, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hypothetically

• apologetically
• photosynthetically
• phylogenetically
• aesthetically
• esthetically
• genetically
• kinetically
• phonetically
• poetically
• prophetically
• synthetically
• alphabetically