1
: of, relating to, or caused by a virus
a viral infection
2
: quickly and widely spread or popularized especially by means of social media
a viral video
Examples of viral in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This could be a sign of an impending health issue like a viral illness.
—
Nicole Williams,
AJC.com,
6 July 2026
Her videos answering questions about growing up with 44 siblings have gone viral, with many people stunned learning about her life.
—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
6 July 2026
In May 2021, a 17-year-old’s birthday party announcement went viral on TikTok, resulting in more than 2,000 partygoers converging along the Huntington Beach pier and downtown area.
—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2026
Sixty percent of companies report letting Gen Z hires go within the first few months in 2026, citing a lack of motivation — and Gen Z has largely responded not with reflection but with viral mockery of the employers.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
6 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for viral
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Nicole Williams,
AJC.com,
6 July 2026
Her videos answering questions about growing up with 44 siblings have gone viral, with many people stunned learning about her life.
—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
6 July 2026
In May 2021, a 17-year-old’s birthday party announcement went viral on TikTok, resulting in more than 2,000 partygoers converging along the Huntington Beach pier and downtown area.
—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2026
Sixty percent of companies report letting Gen Z hires go within the first few months in 2026, citing a lack of motivation — and Gen Z has largely responded not with reflection but with viral mockery of the employers.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
6 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for viral
Cite this Entry
“Viral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viral. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
viral
adjective
vi·ral
ˈvī-rəl 
1
: of, relating to, or caused by a virus
a viral infection
2
: quickly and widely spread or popularized especially by person-to-person electronic communication
a viral video
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