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

No, the most shameless campaigning—virtually all of it happening just off-stage and with a shouted whisper—is that for prime gigs should President Joe Biden prevail in his re-election bid. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 5 June 2024

Manufacturing has also been central to the economic success of virtually every other nation that has gone from rags to riches. —Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 4 June 2024

While a record 117 gigawatts of new wind capacity came online last year globally, virtually all of that growth was in China. —Brad Plumer, New York Times, 3 June 2024

Earlier this month, a Michigan man appeared virtually in a Washtenaw County court hearing, only to be ordered by the judge to turn himself in. —Melissa Noel, Essence, 30 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1b