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

Example Sentences

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

Most are basically thin wrappers seeking to arbitrage LLM pricing, with virtually no differentiation or competitive moat. —Rob Reid, Ars Technica, 9 Mar. 2023

Another is that this could be the start of Mr. al-Assad’s fuller reintegration in the international community with virtually no consequences for the abuses during the war. —Raja Abdulrahim, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2023

First-class commercial airfare and accommodations for congressional representatives and their staff for official travel is covered by the Treasury Department, with virtually no limits. —Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2023

The hospital lobby dropped its opposition after Gipson agreed to give the industry flexibility, and the measure passed through the legislature with virtually no opposition. —Mark Kreidler, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Feb. 2023

Some fans began filing out midway through the fourth quarter of Sunday’s showcase, which featured virtually no defensive effort. —Ben Golliver, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Feb. 2023

The best part about making the caffeine-free espresso swap is that there’s virtually no difference in taste once the espresso martini lands at your table. —Brittany Leitner, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2023

Our team of White Helmets volunteer rescue workers in northwest Syria have been working around the clock night and day, pulling survivors from the rubble and searching for signs of life — with virtually no help from the outside world. —Raed Al Saleh, CNN, 13 Feb. 2023

Theo’s Duncan Press is located in a wooden-interior brownstone in Gramercy Park, with virtually no employees, like someone’s 1978 fantasy of what an indie publishing house looks like. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Feb. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b