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
This sort of player could, in theory, be acquired for less than $30 million per year and without a first-round pick (there are 12 receivers on Dane Brugler’s top 100 big board).
—
Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 10 Mar. 2025
Another strategy is to require that banks publish a clear decarbonization plan, which can, in theory, be a sort of back door to blocking new fossil fuel investments.
—Joseph Winters, WIRED, 8 Mar. 2025
But still, the uptick in SPARs — which, in theory, can help CPD leaders identify future misconduct patterns among rank-and-file officers — also coincides with long-standing concerns voiced by the independent monitoring team that assesses the city’s compliance with the federal consent decree.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
This framework could, in theory, serve a metatextual purpose, but the film’s stylizations rarely deviate from it even in brief moments of greater joy and intimacy.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in theory
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Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 10 Mar. 2025
Another strategy is to require that banks publish a clear decarbonization plan, which can, in theory, be a sort of back door to blocking new fossil fuel investments.
—Joseph Winters, WIRED, 8 Mar. 2025
But still, the uptick in SPARs — which, in theory, can help CPD leaders identify future misconduct patterns among rank-and-file officers — also coincides with long-standing concerns voiced by the independent monitoring team that assesses the city’s compliance with the federal consent decree.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
This framework could, in theory, serve a metatextual purpose, but the film’s stylizations rarely deviate from it even in brief moments of greater joy and intimacy.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in theory
Cite this Entry
“In theory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20theory. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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