virtually

adverb

vir·​tu·​al·​ly ˈvər-chə-wə-lē 

-chə-lē;

ˈvərch-wə-lē

1

a

: almost entirely : nearly

The project is virtually complete.

Virtually every applicant was overqualified for the job.

b

: for all practical purposes

She was virtually unknown prior to starring in the film.

It is virtually impossible to know the truth of the matter.

2

: by means of a computer or computer network : in a virtual location

The meeting is being held virtually.

They did all their shopping virtually.

Synonyms

• about
• all but
• almost
• borderline
• fair [chiefly British]
• fairly
• feckly [chiefly Scottish]
• more or less
• most
• much
• near
• nearly
• next to
• nigh
• practically
• somewhere
• well-nigh

Examples of virtually in a Sentence

We spent virtually all day shopping.

The stadium was virtually empty by the time the game ended.

I remember virtually everything he said.

That illness is virtually unknown in this area.

Recent Examples on the Web

Among Republican voters in the survey, Bianco and state Sen. Brian Dahle are virtually tied at about a third each. —Dan Walters, Orange County Register, 14 Nov. 2024

Quarterback Bo Nix played one year with Forsyth at Oregon in 2022 and now is teammates with him again, meaning Nix has known him as long or longer than virtually anybody on the Broncos’ roster. —Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024

Like virtually every form of public work in New York, street redesigns are laborious and expensive. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 13 Nov. 2024

Kai Ryssdal: Not only were buildings destroyed, virtually leveled, the Air Force says, but some F-22 fighters as well, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars, were also damaged. —Outside Online, 13 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b