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

You may personally find some of them terrible, but most are bearable and all are virtually inevitable.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Slade then poached a loose pass from Munster's Alex Nankivell before racing through under the posts, and Rigg repeated the trick after visiting full-back Ben O'Connor virtually handed him the ball.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

The S&P was virtually flat, the Dow had lost 2.15% and the Nasdaq was up 2.1%.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Seeing virtually no hope of acquittal, Brown’s attorneys were desperate to preserve the possibility of commutation.

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026

And it seemed that he, disgusted by Bunny in what appeared to be virtually all respects, would be far more disgusted in that particular one than even I would be.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Related Words

• basically
• essentially
• nearly
• practically