The Meaning of Virtually: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of virtually? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word virtually, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

Your writing, at its best

Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant

What does the word virtually mean?

According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word virtually is an adverb that means something is in essence the same, or that something is taking place not in reality, but often over the internet. Vir-tu-al-ly and the pronunciation of virtually is ˈvɜːtʃʊəlɪ.

This word can also be used in mathematics, according to Shabdkosh. This is used especially in abstract algebra that studies infinite groups to describe something that can modify a property so that it need only hold for a subgroup of finite index. For example, when given sme property P, a group G is said to be virtually P if there exists such a finite index subgroup such that Q has the same property P.

Many different languages also contain words that mean virtually. You may notice that some of these words look very similar to one another. These are called cognates. Cognates are words and phrases that look and sound similar between languages while also meaning something similar. These are often formed when two words have the same language of origin or root. This list of translations for the word virtually is provided by Word Sense

  •  Finnish: näennäinen‎, virtuaalinen‎
  •  Irish: fíorúil‎
  •  Danish: virtuel‎
  •  Russian: виртуа́льный‎
  •  Walloon: forveyou‎ (masc.)
  •  Catalan: virtual‎
  •  Czech: virtuální‎ (masc.)
  •  Esperanto: virtuala‎
  •  Turkish: sanal‎
  •  German: eigentlich‎, virtuell‎
  •  Persian: مجازی‎ (majāzī)
  •  Latin: virtualis‎
  •  Polish: wirtualny‎
  •  Japanese: 仮想の‎ (かそうの, kasō no)
  •  Arabic: خَيَالِيّ‎
  •  Georgian: ფაქტიური‎
  •  Greek: εικονικός‎ (masc.)
  •  Italian: virtuale‎
  •  French: virtuel‎
  •  Korean: 사실상의‎
  •  Maori: mariko‎
  •  Ukrainian: віртуальний‎ (virtuál’nyj)
  •  Spanish: virtual‎
  •  Bulgarian: виртуален‎ (virtuálen)
  •  Portuguese: virtual‎
  •  Dutch: virtueel‎
  •  Hebrew: ווירטואלי‎
  •  Swedish: virtuell‎
  •  Bengali: ভার্চুয়াল‎ (varcuẇal)

What are synonyms and antonyms of the word virtually?

There are many different words that a person can use in place of the word virtually. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same definition as another given word or phrase. Synonyms are a great way to expand your English language vocabulary and avoid repeating yourself. This list of synonyms for the word virtually is provided by Power Thesaurus

  •  in sooth
  •  as much as
  •  almost
  •  nearly
  •  in practice
  •  just about
  •  near
  •  as good as
  •  in substance
  •  nigh
  •  effectively
  •  as it were
  •  really
  •  almost entirely
  •  most
  •  as near as dammit
  •  damn near
  •  for all practical purposes
  •  in effect
  •  all but
  •  actually
  •  close to
  •  essentially
  •  practically
  •  morally
  •  implicitly
  •  nearing
  •  substantially
  •  more or less
  •  at bottom
  •  approximately
  •  probably
  •  well-nigh
  •  virtual
  •  for all intents and purposes
  •  hardly
  •  within a little
  •  roughly
  •  basically
  •  fundamentally
  •  bordering on
  •  at the heart of
  •  potentially
  •  not quite
  •  about
  •  truly
  •  so to speak
  •  near to
  •  in essence
  •  in practical terms

There are also many different words that have the opposite meaning as the word virtually. These are called antonyms, which are opposite words to synonyms. These words contain the opposite meaning of a given word or phrase. This list of antonyms for the word virtually is also provided by Power Thesaurus

  •  ostensibly
  •  nakedly
  •  completely
  •  plain
  •  far
  •  authenticly
  •  edgewise
  •  avowedly
  •  narrowly
  •  entirely
  •  priori
  •  bluntly
  •  barely
  •  professedly
  •  directly
  •  baldly
  •  frankly
  •  allegorically
  •  dubiously
  •  hardly
  •  actually
  •  genuinely
  •  least
  •  metaphorically
  •  wholly
  •  illogically
  •  strictly speaking
  •  outspokenly
  •  idealistically
  •  conceptually
  •  openly
  •  decidedly
  •  plainly
  •  candidly
  •  freely
  •  quite
  •  fully
  •  altogether
  •  honestly
  •  plumb
  •  impractically
  •  authentically
  •  overtly
  •  desolately
  •  minimum
  •  corruptly
  •  absolutely
  •  word for word
  •  exactly
  •  positively

How can the word virtually be used in a sentence?

The word virtually can be used in many different sentences in common use in the American English language. Using words in a sentence is a great way to remember their definitions. You can also try to make flashcards or quizzes for yourself to test your knowledge. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today! It may become a new favorite word. Below are a few different examples of the word virtually to get you started. 

The library decided to, in a literal manner, make virtually all of their in person events virtual events. This was done for practical purposes and for convenience. People found that if they were able to go to the event from their home, they were more likely to attend. 

Many people prefer communicating in a virtual manner via chat on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. They enjoy communicating this way for the purposes of convenience and because they can connect with people all over the globe rather than just who is close to them. 

The young girl helped her grandmother set up a computer software that provided the virtual storage of all of her photos. The grandmother loved seeing all of her wonderful memories scroll by, and she liked the convenience of not having to lug heavy photo albums all over the place.

During the virtual meeting, the employed announced the transit strike. This was cause for extreme alarm among upper management

The friends attended a virtual reality concert the other night. They all went over to one person’s home and watched the show in their pajamas. They had a great time.

The school decided to continue offering online courses and online education. The student learning was just as effective in virtual classrooms, and they were concerned about the efficacy of the coronavirus prevention policies they had in place.

Overall, the word virtually means either happening not in reality, but in the abstract or via a software or computer program, or it can mean practically or basically. This is a very common word that is useful to know. Try using it in a sentence today!

Sources:

  1. virtually – Meaning in Telugu |  Shabdkosh
  2. Virtually definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary 
  3. Virtually synonyms – 372 Words and Phrases for Virtually | Power Thesaurus 
  4. virtual: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
  5. Virtually antonyms – 76 Opposites of Virtually | Power Thesaurus