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
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
The renter, who hypothetically invested the $90,000 down payment in the stock market, would accumulate $929,000.
—Jeff Goertzen, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
The libertarian-leaning senator said the government should stay out of the issue altogether but stipulated that ABC, as Kimmel’s employer, has the right to take punitive action against him if, hypothetically, Kimmel’s conduct violated his contract.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 21 Sep. 2025
As Democrats push to extend Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, Cole stressed that issue and debate is outside of his committee's jurisdiction -- though Johnson could hypothetically direct him to attach it to the CR.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetically
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Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
The renter, who hypothetically invested the $90,000 down payment in the stock market, would accumulate $929,000.
—Jeff Goertzen, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
The libertarian-leaning senator said the government should stay out of the issue altogether but stipulated that ABC, as Kimmel’s employer, has the right to take punitive action against him if, hypothetically, Kimmel’s conduct violated his contract.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 21 Sep. 2025
As Democrats push to extend Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, Cole stressed that issue and debate is outside of his committee's jurisdiction -- though Johnson could hypothetically direct him to attach it to the CR.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 12 Sep. 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 7 Oct. 2025.
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