essentially

adverb

es·​sen·​tial·​ly i-ˈsen(t)-shə-lē How to pronounce essentially (audio)
-ˈsench-lē
: in essence : fundamentally
used to identify or stress the basic or essential character or nature of a person or thing or to say that a description is basically true or accurate
He's essentially a good man.
… painting, essentially a two-dimensional art …Herbert Read
The fact that so many bloggers are essentially anonymous allows them to spew rancor, rumor, lies, and obscenities.Gil Troy
Aphids feed on the sugary phloem of plants. Essentially they steal the product of photosynthesis.Caleb Rounds

Examples of essentially in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Finally, blockchain smart contracts—essentially, self-executing, irreversible exchanges of cryptocurrency—automatically process the trades and distribute money to the winners. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2024 Boeing’s place as part of a duopoly, along with European rival Airbus, essentially ensures its survival. Chris Isidore, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024 My experience was essentially that of a passive observer, and that stoked an ever-mounting feeling of helplessness and horror at the individual experiences that flood social media. Hazlitt, 23 Oct. 2024 This essentially matched the $22.6-million launch of the original. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for essentially 

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of essentially was in 1774

Dictionary Entries Near essentially

Cite this Entry

“Essentially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essentially. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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