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

The fact that so many bloggers are essentially anonymous allows them to spew rancor, rumor, lies, and obscenities.

—Gil Troy

Aphids feed on the sugary phloem of plants. Essentially they steal the product of photosynthesis.

—Caleb Rounds

Examples of essentially in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But Vanderbilt, as attention, pressure and fatigue rise on a pursuit no one outside its camp expected, is essentially two teams with two games left in the 2025 regular season. —Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025

This sketch essentially spoofs his brand partnerships and bland style. —Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025

Since that early pick, Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns and just five incompletions, one of which came on a throw that essentially served as a punt late in the game. —Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025

The underrated corner of the retail platform is essentially a virtual clearance rack, with dozens of deals on items like chunky knits and seasonal boots. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for essentially

• potentially
• confidentially
• exponentially
• inferentially
• experientially