virtually

American  

[vur-choo-uh-lee] / ˈvɜr tʃu ə li /

adverb

1. for the most part; almost wholly; just about.

   He is virtually unknown.

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virtually British  

/ ˈvɜːtʃʊəlɪ /

adverb

1. in effect though not in fact; practically; nearly

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Usage

What does virtually mean? Virtually most generally means in effect but not in fact, as in Today, virtually all cell phones are smartphones. Close synonyms are nearly, practically, and just about—they all mean virtually the same thing. Virtually is the adverb form of the adjective virtual, which is most generally used to describe something as being the same as something else in almost every way, except perhaps in name or some other minor, technical sense. For example, describing a company as a virtual monopoly means it’s pretty much a monopoly but not technically one, perhaps because it has a few minor competitors. Virtual also commonly means simulated or extended by computer software. The word is used this way in virtual reality, which refers to a fully simulated environment. To render something virtually is to create a representation or simulation of it using a computer. Sometimes, things described as virtual may not involve simulation at all, such as a virtual meeting or a virtual concert. The use of virtual in these phrases represents a more recent sense of the word that means something like “remote and via the internet” (especially when accessed via a live video feed). Virtually can be used in the same way, as in I can’t make it into the office, but I’ll be working virtually. Example: Virtually everyone agrees with the proposal—it has a 99. 9% approval rating.

Etymology

Origin of virtually

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at virtual, -ly

Explanation

Use the adjective virtually to mean almost. If your economics homework is nearly complete, it is virtually done. Virtually also means in essence, or for all intents and purposes. If you virtually ran the German club bake sale by yourself, it means that even though you weren't officially in charge, you might as well have been. In computer science, the word virtually has the extended sense of being part of the simulated computer world. Your character in a computer game might excel virtually at sports even though you're not particularly athletic in real life.

Example Sentences

There are virtually endless combinations of chemical elements that could form new materials, yet only a tiny fraction turn out to be superconductors.

From Science Daily • Jul. 7, 2026

She’s taken to the lawns of London like a natural despite growing up in Los Angeles County, where grass courts are virtually nonexistent.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 4, 2026

Their hypothetical portfolio performed extremely well — producing risk-adjusted performance superior to virtually all other stock picking strategies that have previously enjoyed academic seals of approval.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 4, 2026

Schroyer was instrumental in the implementation in Oklahoma, Tipton said, and helped coordinate a new push by ICE to do the training virtually.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 3, 2026

After a brief period of progress during Reconstruction, African Americans found themselves, once again, virtually defenseless.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• basically
• essentially
• nearly
• practically