physically

[fiz-ik-lee]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of physically¹

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

Example Sentences

"As long as you're hitting the ball well and playing good cricket, it's about physically fit, mentally ready and excited."

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"Entangled" means the two photons share a single quantum state even when physically apart.

Read more on Science Daily

Said first-year coach Carson Palmer: “To come out and just physically dominate … we just keep getting better and better. We’re playing real good right now and unfortunately have only one game left.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"The deer is so seasonal and that is so rare to be actually able to go and physically see a deer in person," she says.

Read more on BBC

The tendrils of the tightly strung material connect, both physically and metaphorically, the wartime experiences documented in the photocopied pages scattered about, but they also bring to mind out-of-control cell growth and cancerous disease.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• palpably www.thesaurus.com
• substantially