How to Use in theory in a Sentence

in theory

phrase

• That should, in theory, give him a chance to seize some of the minutes off of the bench.
  — Tom Rende, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
• Many of those changes are reversible, in theory.
  — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
• While workers are free to quit in theory, most cannot afford to.
  — CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
• So in theory, the path is clear and not all that difficult.
  — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
• The concert is like the last thing that in theory should happen.
  — Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2024
• That’s trust in action, not in theory.
  — Brandon Spear, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
• There are multiple ways to die by black holes – at least, in theory.
  — Madison Dapcevich, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
• Bath towels are, in theory anyway, meant to stay soft and clean.
  — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
• That’s what reform looks like—not in theory, but in practice.
  — Cj Eason, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
• There isn’t a game that was scheduled to, in theory, give the Cards an easy win.
  — The Courier-Journal, 3 Jan. 2024
• Spring cleaning sounds great in theory.
  — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
• Oil prices have surged, which in theory means higher revenues.
  — Ezgi Canpolat, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
• Not in theory, but in practice.
  — Seth Joseph, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
• Yes, in theory, but in practice, there's something else afoot.
  — Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
• And right now the three of them are running it together, in theory.
  — Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2023
• Enough depth, in theory, to not have to use a high draft pick on an offensive tackle.
  — Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2023
• Yet its pairing of the sample and lyrics doesn’t quite work as well in practice as in theory.
  — Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
• And in theory, and outside the pub after closing time, that’s all there is to it.
  — New Atlas, 13 July 2026
• Those boys, in theory, enjoy turning lights on and off and knocking things off the wall.
  — Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
• This sounds cozy in theory, until you're asked to read that one super long book for the hundredth time.
  — Esther Carlstone, Parents, 6 Oct. 2023
• Steel tariffs, in theory, can even the global playing field on price.
  — Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 2 June 2025
• Special elections, used by half the states, are the best reform … in theory.
  — Bob Marshall, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2025
• Yes, in theory, but that equation isn’t perfect.
  — Caroline Tien, SELF, 11 Mar. 2026
• These guys were there, in theory, mostly to carry their boss’ water.
  — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
• The idea of putting a cute sticker on your body every day to take a supplement seems fun in theory.
  — Korin Miller, SELF, 6 Mar. 2026
• Many Marin residents would agree, at least in theory.
  — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
• The elusive dragon could, in theory, be mounted if he could ever be found.
  — Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 29 July 2024
• Art, in theory, is about crossing boundaries.
  — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
• Spending time with those people is a good thing, of course, or in theory they wouldn't be invited.
  — Jenny Porter Tilley, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Nov. 2024
• That’s been replaced by a regime that is in theory voluntary but fickle.
  — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025