To save this word, you'll need to log in.
hy·po·thet·i·cal·ly | \ ˌhī-pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 
\
\Definition of hypothetically
: 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 possibleHypothetically, 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
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on hypothetically
What made you want to look up hypothetically? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Intact Latin Quiz
- What did focus mean in Latin?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Intact Latin Quiz
What did each of these words mean to ancient Romans?
Take the quiz - The Eponym Quiz
Do you know these words that come from names?
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Citation
Do you know the person or title these quotes describe?
Play the game
Share hypothetically
Time Traveler for hypothetically
The first known use of hypothetically was in 1593
See more words from the same year