essentially
adverb
es·sen·tial·ly
i-ˈsen(t)-shə-lē 
-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
Herbert ReadThe fact that so many bloggers are essentially anonymous allows them to spew rancor, rumor, lies, and obscenities.—Gil Troy
Gil TroyAphids feed on the sugary phloem of plants. Essentially they steal the product of photosynthesis.—Caleb Rounds
Caleb RoundsExamples of essentially in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By 1900, African Americans were essentially excluded from the job of blacksmith and were being excluded from skilled trades.
—Sonari Glinton, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The reversible design has a navy and white pattern on one side and a colorful version on the back that’s essentially two pillows in one.
—Ali Faccenda, People.com, 26 June 2025
Much of the package, with its tax breaks and bolstered border security spending, is essentially drafted.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 June 2025
The azul and chrome essentially trade places with Vancouver, which falls to 10-3-5.
SDFC has outscored its opponents 22-8 in nine road matches this season.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for essentially
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Sonari Glinton, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The reversible design has a navy and white pattern on one side and a colorful version on the back that’s essentially two pillows in one.
—Ali Faccenda, People.com, 26 June 2025
Much of the package, with its tax breaks and bolstered border security spending, is essentially drafted.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 June 2025
The azul and chrome essentially trade places with Vancouver, which falls to 10-3-5.
SDFC has outscored its opponents 22-8 in nine road matches this season.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for essentially
Cite this Entry
“Essentially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essentially. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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