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

Practically speaking, those odds are virtually indistinguishable — about the same as flipping a coin and getting heads versus tails. —G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024

Ahead of the polls opening on Election Day, Harris and Trump were virtually tied in Pennsylvania, according to 538's polling average. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Giuliani’s lawyer asked for a delay or that he be allowed to appear virtually, citing a contractual commitment to host a live radio broadcast in the evening. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

Meanwhile, Harris was found to be leading Trump in Iowa, an unexpected reversal in a state where Democrats and Republicans alike believed a Trump victory was virtually certain. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b