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
The rule gives the Dodgers some roster flexibility, because teams can only carry a maximum of 13 pitchers on their roster, but Ohtani’s designation essentially allows the Dodgers to carry 14 pitchers.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The 25-year-old Boerkircher essentially gives Jacksonville a replacement for veteran Johnny Mundt, who was released in March after one season.
—Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
In classical Athens the playwright Aristophanes attacked purveyors of knowledge for being intellectually untrustworthy, essentially deceitful.
—Clare Bucknell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Houston came all the way back from a 15-point first-half deficit and had the ball with a 6-point lead and essentially one shot clock left.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for essentially
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Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The 25-year-old Boerkircher essentially gives Jacksonville a replacement for veteran Johnny Mundt, who was released in March after one season.
—Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
In classical Athens the playwright Aristophanes attacked purveyors of knowledge for being intellectually untrustworthy, essentially deceitful.
—Clare Bucknell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Houston came all the way back from a 15-point first-half deficit and had the ball with a 6-point lead and essentially one shot clock left.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for essentially
Cite this Entry
“Essentially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essentially. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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