basically

[bey-sik-lee]

adverb

1. in a way that involves or affects the fundamental character or condition.

   The building needs a few repairs, but is basically sound.

2. as a recap of the main point or idea; if put simply or briefly.

   Basically, her advice boils down to “Eat a sensible, balanced diet, and relax.”

basically

/ ˈbeɪsɪklɪ /

adverb

1. in a fundamental or elementary manner; essentially

   strident and basically unpleasant

2. (sentence modifier) in essence; in summary; put simply

   basically we had underestimated mother nature

Other Word Forms

• quasi-basically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of basically¹

First recorded in 1900–05; basic + -ally

Example Sentences

The first reading of the consumer sentiment survey in October was basically flat at 55.0, the University of Michigan said Friday.

Read more on MarketWatch

And yet, today there are only 700 billionaires in the U.S., and basically none of them derived their wealth from old money.

Read more on Barron's

"I had to send receipts to basically prove I had a parking permit."

Read more on BBC

"I was basically playing a joke on you, which I rarely do because I'm not really a wind up merchant," adding that Corden is.

Read more on BBC

Simultaneously, broad nativist fear of immigrants, and their labor, led to 1921 and 1924 acts creating restrictive quota systems basically eliminating immigration from anywhere but northwest Europe and the New World.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• essentially 
• mostly