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hypothetically

American  
[hahy-puh-thet-i-klee] / ˌhaɪ pəˈθɛt ɪ kli /

adverb

  1. according to what is assumed as a premise in an argument.

    Hypothetically, without friction or other resistance a toy car on a track could cruise along indefinitely, provided it never went higher than its starting point.

  2. in a way that is theoretically possible but not proven; conjecturally; speculatively.

    Hypothetically, these nanobots would be able to traverse any type of terrain and would therefore be ideal for exploration missions on other planets.

    While hypothetically this could be the case, you appear to have no evidence to support it.

  3. according to what is assumed or imagined; supposedly.

    I do legal transcription and hypothetically clean the house while my children are at school.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of hypothetically

hypothetical ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hypothetically, Ohtani could throw full-intensity at-bats against hitters in live BPs the afternoon of a playoff game, then have to turn around and serve as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter later that night.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2024

Hypothetically, had we not heated the globe to its current state, the number of unusually warm days would have been far fewer, the scientists estimated, using mathematical modeling of the global climate.

From New York Times • May 28, 2024

Hypothetically speaking, it's probably fair to assume that Norway - Group A's third-seeded nation - are still Scotland's biggest threat for a top-two finish.

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2023

Hypothetically, it's possible that treatments used on humans to target this genetic mutation could be used on dogs and vice versa — and that's the goal.

From Salon • Jul. 12, 2023

The following year Finlay presented his conclusions in a paper called “The Mosquito Hypothetically Considered as the Agent of Yellow Fever.”

From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy