virtually

adverb

vir·​tu·​al·​ly ˈvər-chə-wə-lē How to pronounce virtually (audio)
-chə-lē;
ˈvərch-wə-lē
Synonyms of virtually
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.
At virtually every stop, Trump is interrupted over and over again by hecklers. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 After making the short on virtually no budget, Sandberg entered it in the Bloody Cuts Horror Challenge, winning best director. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 25 Oct. 2026 Miller’s calculated the percentage chance that all 35 seats in play will go blue or red virtually in real time. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 Authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un has taken a hard line toward Seoul and has suspended virtually all dialogue and cooperation with the South in recent years. — Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Virtually.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virtually. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster