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

We may not be able to teleport, either physically or via hologram, but we can Zoom or video chat with pretty much anyone anywhere.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

The College Park, Md.-based company said it had photonically interconnected two remote trapped-ion quantum systems—in other words, linking two physically separate quantum computers.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The front-month U.S. benchmark crude, the WTI, is for May and settles physically.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

The war led the market to question what happens when Brent-linked barrels can’t physically move, Germini added — and the answer is that “buyers rotate fast toward benchmarks and grades that can move.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

The Germans advanced to within twenty-five miles of Paris but found themselves physically exhausted and far ahead of their supply lines.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• palpably
• substantially