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

Since both watches share the same S11 chip and continuous heart rate tracking, their everyday performance is virtually identical. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026

There is virtually no running water, and two million people are bathing in the ocean. — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Your Reputation Doesn’t Automatically Cross Borders A company can be well known in one market and virtually invisible in another. — Guy Bar, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Resource-poor Japan imports virtually all its oil and has been working for years to build alternative, more sustainable sources of energy. — ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b