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

But Trump and virtually all Congressional Republicans strongly support the bill’s central elements--very large tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, paid for by deep cuts in essential programs while adding trillions to the deficit. —Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

Members of the House, who are on recess this week, are set to be briefed virtually on Tuesday by the House Sergeant at Arms, multiple sources told CBS News. —Kaia Hubbard june 16, CBS News, 16 June 2025

Messi has a say in virtually all sporting aspects, and many commercial decisions, at the club. —Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 14 June 2025

There’s also Trump’s concerted attempt to downsize and virtually eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has taken charge of aftermath measures in virtually all wildfire or hurricane disasters of the last several decades. —Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 14 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b