essentially
adverb
es·sen·tial·ly
i-ˈsen(t)-shə-lē 
-ˈsench-lē
: in essence : fundamentally
—used to identify or stress the basic or essential character or nature of a person or thing or to say that a description is basically true or accurate
He's essentially a good man.
… painting, essentially a two-dimensional art …—
Herbert Read
Herbert ReadThe fact that so many bloggers are essentially anonymous allows them to spew rancor, rumor, lies, and obscenities.—Gil Troy
Gil TroyAphids feed on the sugary phloem of plants. Essentially they steal the product of photosynthesis.—Caleb Rounds
Caleb RoundsExamples of essentially in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Baseball players are known for frequenting steakhouses, where they’re essentially guaranteed an experience that’s upscale, reliable and protein-rich.
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
Imagined by celebrity colorists Zoë Irwin and Nicola Clarke at John Frieda, airy lights are essentially teeny tiny blonde highlights that are dotted along both sides of the [hair part] and carefully laid over a darker tone for contrast, as seen on model Amelia Swaby.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 9 Jan. 2025
On Monday, Morgan essentially fell on his sword with the defense.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2025
The working class, the middle class, the populist vote, essentially.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for essentially 
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Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
Imagined by celebrity colorists Zoë Irwin and Nicola Clarke at John Frieda, airy lights are essentially teeny tiny blonde highlights that are dotted along both sides of the [hair part] and carefully laid over a darker tone for contrast, as seen on model Amelia Swaby.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 9 Jan. 2025
On Monday, Morgan essentially fell on his sword with the defense.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2025
The working class, the middle class, the populist vote, essentially.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for essentially
Dictionary Entries Near essentially
Cite this Entry
“Essentially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essentially. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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