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

China itself went from virtually no domestic offshore wind farms two decades ago to hosting about half of global capacity.

From The Wall Street Journal

These simple to play devices allowed you to get your golf fix virtually, wherever you were, by pressing buttons to hit the ball.

From BBC

The Southwest was soon to become home, for a portion of each year, and it would also provide virtually inexhaustible subjects for her iconic paintings.

From The Wall Street Journal

Another study, published in 2013, found "there is virtually no evidence in any country to suggest links between migration and violent crime".

From BBC

Jobless claims tell investors virtually nothing about whether businesses are hiring, but they clearly show most companies are shunning big layoffs.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• basically
• essentially
• nearly
• practically