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.

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Other Word Forms

• unhypothetically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of hypothetically

hypothetical ( def. ) + -ly

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hypothetically

“Even if the war were hypothetically to end tomorrow, the price of oil is still going to be higher versus a year ago for a minimum of the next one to two months,” said Molchanov.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

So could brain organoids grown and maintained in a lab hypothetically outlive humans?

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

Many readers caught my recent gaffe when I asked, hypothetically, what if Rivian’s or Tesla’s first model had been a pickup?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

If there was hypothetically a Lions tour this summer, he is going on it.

From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2026

Copernicus presents his ideas hypothetically; Galileo says he has confirmed them with his telescope; and Kepler whispers in his ear, saying, ‘If only you could confirm it by flying there!’

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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Related Words

• apparently
• doubtless
• probably
• seemingly
• supposedly
• surely

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