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; virtual, -ly

Example Sentences

The fund had virtually no correlation with the S&P 500 in the past three years.

From Barron's

The bank said in December that while inflation in recent months had been lower than forecast, in the medium term, inflation pressures were virtually unchanged compared to its prior meeting in September.

From The Wall Street Journal

As recently as the mid-2000s, a drop in gasoline prices represented virtually all upside for the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Alphabet’s stock has skyrocketed 66% over the last 12 months as Google cemented itself as a leader in the AI race and expanded its presence in virtually every facet of the ecosystem.

From MarketWatch

“What we are doing is virtually the opposite,” he said.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• basically
• essentially
• nearly
• practically