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
The nonprofit would essentially act as the land developer, coming up with a master plan, securing permits, managing financing, entering into contracts with partners and overseeing construction.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
With its cast of characters essentially plucked from Fugard’s early life in Port Elizabeth, the play introduces Hally (a stand-in for Fugard) at a crossroads.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Moursi also traces the idea that islands are essentially anarchistic or libertarian.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 14 Apr. 2026
Because the coating essentially behaves like a dye, it can also be designed to blend with different architectural styles to match the aesthetics of a certain area.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for essentially
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Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
With its cast of characters essentially plucked from Fugard’s early life in Port Elizabeth, the play introduces Hally (a stand-in for Fugard) at a crossroads.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Moursi also traces the idea that islands are essentially anarchistic or libertarian.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 14 Apr. 2026
Because the coating essentially behaves like a dye, it can also be designed to blend with different architectural styles to match the aesthetics of a certain area.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for essentially
Cite this Entry
“Essentially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essentially. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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