1
: of, relating to, or caused by a virus
a viral infection
2
: quickly and widely spread or popularized especially by means of social media
a viral video
Examples of viral in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While viral videos often blame everything from breakouts to dullness on air conditioning alone, Jafari says the reality is less dramatic.
—
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Strangely, as social media has moved from the text of status updates and tweets to short video, verbal commentary has actually grown more prominent and more viral.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
The viral clip has been viewed millions of times on X and other social media outlets.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
Here’s where the viral clip gets its real punch.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for viral
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Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Strangely, as social media has moved from the text of status updates and tweets to short video, verbal commentary has actually grown more prominent and more viral.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
The viral clip has been viewed millions of times on X and other social media outlets.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
Here’s where the viral clip gets its real punch.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for viral
Cite this Entry
“Viral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viral. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
viral
adjective
vi·ral
ˈvī-rəl 
1
: of, relating to, or caused by a virus
a viral infection
2
: quickly and widely spread or popularized especially by person-to-person electronic communication
a viral video
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