virtually

adverb

vir·​tu·​al·​ly ˈvər-chə-wə-lē 

-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.

Synonyms

• about
• all but
• almost
• borderline
• fair [chiefly British]
• fairly
• feckly [chiefly Scottish]
• more or less
• most
• much
• near
• nearly
• next to
• nigh
• practically
• somewhere
• well-nigh

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

With Trump's blessing, Musk's group has tried to grant itself virtually unfettered access to the most sensitive personal and financial systems the federal government maintains. —Shannon Bond, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025

From publicists and songwriters to DEI coordinators and engineers, virtually every music industry field had a representative at the sprawling conference. —Kyle Denis, Billboard, 28 Apr. 2025

By imparting their expertise virtually, NCI cancer centers have helped community oncologists provide specialized care regardless of location. —Jordan French, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025

The tools that had been used to humiliate them were relatively new: products of the generative AI boom in which virtually any image could be created with the click of a button. —Andrew R. Chow, Time, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b