viral

[vahy-ruhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by a virus.

2. pertaining to or involving the spreading of information and opinions about a product or service from person to person, especially on the internet or in emails.

   a clever viral ad.

3. becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the internet.

   the most memorable viral videos;

   This book is already viral two weeks before its official publication date.

4. pertaining to a computer virus.

viral

/ ˈvaɪrəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by a virus

2. (of a video, image, story, etc) spread quickly and widely among internet users via social networking sites, e-mail, etc

Other Word Forms

• antiviral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of viral¹

First recorded in 1935–40; vir(us) + -al ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go viral, to spread rapidly via the internet, email, or other media.

   Footage of the candidate's off-color remarks went viral within minutes.

Example Sentences

After getting viral notoriety for a character you play, what was it like for you to go on stage as yourself doing stand-up?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Writer Alex O’Keefe, whom police detained last month in a viral seating dispute on a New York City train, is off the hook for alleged disorderly conduct.

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Imagine a constant flow of videos as addictive and viral as those on TikTok, but it’s often impossible to tell which are real.

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Yang has emerged as a fan favorite on the venerable NBC sketch show, for which he just received his fourth Emmy nomination, by creating unexpected viral moments.

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“I don’t want to have an unhappy experience with you, and I don’t want this all on camera,” she added, moments before the three-minute clip, which went viral online, was cut.

Read more on Salon