virtually

[vur-choo-uh-lee]

adverb

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

   He is virtually unknown.

virtually

/ ˈvɜːtʃʊəlɪ /

adverb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of virtually¹

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

Example Sentences

Zolgensma remains virtually the only gene therapy to have proven a true commercial success.

Read more on Barron's

At one of China’s biggest ports, shipping containers whiz about on self-driving trucks with virtually no workers in sight, while the port’s scheduling is run by AI.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Chief Medical Examiner Dr Odey Ukpo said the practice of security holds is "virtually unheard of in other counties" and "has not been proven to improve outcomes in the legal system".

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Lots of people under 25 still go, however, and that’s why virtually everything is aimed at them.

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This is one reason Alphabet, which has concentrated on corporate sales of existing products, has been virtually immune to the selloff.

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Related Words

• basically 
• essentially 
• nearly 
• practically 

When To Use

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.