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

The order that Trump rescinded, originally signed by President Lyndon Johnson, applied to virtually every major business and many small companies that together employ about a quarter of workers in the United States. —Chris Isidore, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025

For the last four years or so, almost all political junkies on the right have been critical of virtually every word and deed that former President Joe Biden espoused. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2025

Ava suggests remote learning, but Jacob and Barbara scoff at the idea as teaching virtually is incredibly difficult, and the school’s main source of Wi-Fi is siphoned from the routers at the neighboring deli. —Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025

This winter storm will virtually shut down travel for days in some areas. —Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b