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
Genevieve StuttafordWe 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 possibleLewis H. LaphamHypothetically, 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
Dragan HutererExamples of hypothetically in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Once inside a human, a mirror bacteria could hypothetically replicate to extremely high levels in the body, causing its host to experience something similar to septic shock.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
In the messages, which were sent to a Republican member of the House of Delegates in 2022, Jones describes the then-Republican speaker of the House of Delegates hypothetically being shot in the head with two bullets.
—Margaret Barthel, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
Let’s say, hypothetically, that one of these appellate courts rules in favor of the administration.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2025
Marvel never announced which movie was originally set for that July 2027 date, but has a number of projects in development that hypothetically could have filled that slot.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetically
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Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
In the messages, which were sent to a Republican member of the House of Delegates in 2022, Jones describes the then-Republican speaker of the House of Delegates hypothetically being shot in the head with two bullets.
—Margaret Barthel, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
Let’s say, hypothetically, that one of these appellate courts rules in favor of the administration.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2025
Marvel never announced which movie was originally set for that July 2027 date, but has a number of projects in development that hypothetically could have filled that slot.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetically
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypothetically. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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