virtually

adverb

vir·​tu·​al·​ly ˈvər-chə-wə-lē How to pronounce virtually (audio)
-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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss the hepatitis B vaccine recommended at birth, a shot that decades of research has shown is safe and has virtually eliminated hepatitis B among babies in the United States. Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2025 Getty Images That upward trajectory stands in contrast to the United States, where life expectancy virtually flatlined during the 2010s and even dipped slightly on occasions during the 2010s—a trend blamed in large part on a surge in deaths from overdoses from the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025 The online interior design platform and shopping experience proved to be more than just an easy and accessible way for consumers to work with interior designers virtually and on a budget. Amanda Lauren, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 When Weissert followed by walking pinch-hitter Carlos Cortes, and third baseman Brett Harris clubbed a go-ahead RBI single, Cora rushed out to stem the bleeding; with virtually zero offensive production from his lineup, waiting for Weissert was a luxury the Red Sox could not afford. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for virtually

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of virtually was circa 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Virtually.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virtually. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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