essentially
adverb
es·sen·tial·ly
i-ˈsen(t)-shə-lē 
-ˈsench-lē
: in essence : fundamentally
—used to identify or stress the basic or essential character or nature of a person or thing or to say that a description is basically true or accurate
He's essentially a good man.
… painting, essentially a two-dimensional art …—
Herbert Read
Herbert ReadThe fact that so many bloggers are essentially anonymous allows them to spew rancor, rumor, lies, and obscenities.—Gil Troy
Gil TroyAphids feed on the sugary phloem of plants. Essentially they steal the product of photosynthesis.—Caleb Rounds
Caleb RoundsExamples of essentially in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Israel has also essentially normalized direct strikes inside Iran’s borders and demonstrated its ability to inflict significant damage to the regime.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 14 Sep. 2025
Taxes at that level were essentially a blockade on commerce between the world's two largest economies, causing worries about global growth that led to negotiations that ratcheted down the tariffs being levied by both nations.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2025
Broiler Basics & Heat Intensity Unlike conventional oven baking, which uses indirect heat, a broiler produces direct, concentrated heat from above—essentially like an upside-down grill inside your oven.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
The fight essentially played out in that manner.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for essentially
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Ian Bremmer, Time, 14 Sep. 2025
Taxes at that level were essentially a blockade on commerce between the world's two largest economies, causing worries about global growth that led to negotiations that ratcheted down the tariffs being levied by both nations.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2025
Broiler Basics & Heat Intensity Unlike conventional oven baking, which uses indirect heat, a broiler produces direct, concentrated heat from above—essentially like an upside-down grill inside your oven.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
The fight essentially played out in that manner.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for essentially
Cite this Entry
“Essentially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essentially. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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