physically

American  

[fiz-ik-lee] / ˈfɪz ɪk li /

adverb

1. relating to the body or its appearance.

   He is not physically attractive.

2. according to what exists in the physical world as perceived by the senses.

   It's not physically possible because of the laws of gravity.

3. in a way that involves rough body contact or strenuous physical activity: a physically demanding sport.

   a physically abusive spouse;

   a physically demanding sport.

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Etymology

Origin of physically

First recorded in 1580–90; physical ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

Because the brain and spinal cord are separate but connected structures in the body, the team kept the organoids physically apart in the lab.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2026

"I'm up to the third mountain, I'm physically exhausted, it was 20 odd degrees. No shade or anything," he said.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

Ethan Mann, my colleague and a supervisor at Book Soup, told me he remembers the place he was both mentally and physically when he purchased a 5-by-8 hardcover copy of “The Parade” by Dave Eggers.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

Abundant land and cheap labor made Phoenix a premier place for companies to stash lower-paid office workers who don’t need to be physically close to clients or headquarters.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

However, we were so emotionally and physically exhausted that we fell asleep almost instantly and slept for hours without stirring.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• palpably
• substantially