in theory

idiom

1

—used to say what should happen or be true if a theory is correct

In theory, the reading skills of the students should improve.

2

—used to say that something seems to be true or possible as an idea but may not actually be true or possible

I agree with you in theory, but realistically I don't think we have the time to do that.

Examples of in theory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of the magazines hampton wrote for still exist in theory, but many have been gutted by lack of funding, venture capital shuffling, the dramatic shift from print to digital and the ease with which charlatans can cosplay as journalists on social media. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 June 2024

Dueling visions The far-right National Rally, spearheaded by Le Pen, the long-time doyenne of France’s anti-immigration camp, currently holds 88 to Macron’s bloc’s 250 seats in the 577-seat French parliament and, in theory, the upcoming election is far from a two-horse race. —Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, 10 June 2024

The network of sensors could — in theory — warn that the hull was failing and give the pilot enough time to escape the crushing pressures of the deep. —William J. Broad, New York Times, 10 June 2024

That's a boon for still photography in theory, but, in this instance, the focus ring is loose to the point of being sloppy. —PCMAG, 6 June 2024