virtually

adverb

vir·​tu·​al·​ly ˈvər-chə-wə-lē 

-chə-lē;

ˈvərch-wə-lē

1

a

: almost entirely : nearly

The project is virtually complete.

Virtually every applicant was overqualified for the job.

b

: for all practical purposes

She was virtually unknown prior to starring in the film.

It is virtually impossible to know the truth of the matter.

2

: by means of a computer or computer network : in a virtual location

The meeting is being held virtually.

They did all their shopping virtually.

Synonyms of virtually

• practically
• almost
• nearly

Examples of virtually in a Sentence

We spent virtually all day shopping.

The stadium was virtually empty by the time the game ended.

I remember virtually everything he said.

That illness is virtually unknown in this area.

Recent Examples on the Web

My favorite space actually sat outside, a deep wooden deck that virtually doubled the living space with its own dining and lounge areas. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Still family-owned under third generation CEO Jim Bakke and spanning three brands to meet virtually every kitchen appliance need—Wolf for cooking and Cove for cleaning—the company has weathered industry headwinds that have challenged other major appliance brands. —Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

This isn’t to say any of these teams would have challenged eventual champion LSU; the point is that distinguishing between teams 10 and 20 for inclusion in a 16-team CFP is virtually impossible. —Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 1 June 2026

But the regulation would nonetheless upend USCIS' longstanding policy of interviewing virtually all asylum applicants before making a decision on their claims, allowing for quick rejections of cases where the paper record suggests the applicants did not meet the 1-year deadline. —Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b