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

Ferguson is listed as the sole director of the companies, all of which applied in recent days to be struck off the UK’s official Companies House register, where virtually all businesses must file information such as directors’ details and annual returns. —Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026

The rain the county has recorded since October has virtually eliminated the risk of large wildfires, at least for the next few months. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

The country had virtually no high-speed trains at the start of the century, but has since built the world’s largest network, with six times more track than all of the European Union combined. —Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026

The two leaders later virtually inaugurated a final assembly line for the production of H125 helicopters, which is joint venture involving India’s Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus. —ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b