physically

adverb

phys·​i·​cal·​ly ˈfi-zi-k(ə-)lē 

1

: in a physical manner : in accord with physical laws

It seemed that such long distance flights would be physically impossible without a highly energy-efficient form of soaring.

—Henri Weimerskirch

2

: in respect to the body

a physically demanding job

Just two weeks before his death, Belushi was physically ejected from an L.A. convenience store at 2 a.m. when he insisted on buying liquor after hours.

—Peter Carlson

I loved it; but I was physically exhausted when I walked out of that studio on Sunday nights …

—Brent Musberger

Examples of physically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is a place where the cold physically hurts. —Bao Phi, Time, 13 Jan. 2026

The city also asks residents not to physically engage with ICE operations and not to throw objects or impede federal law enforcement. —Esme Murphy, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026

Their two children, ages 4 and 1, were found physically unharmed in the residence when police conducted the welfare check. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026

Wall Street Journal Amazon has given its managers a dashboard that tracks how many hours their employees spend physically in the office. —Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing physically

• hyper-physically
• physically distance
• physically ill