virtually

virtually — adverb

1. to an extent that is almost total or complete, so that something can be treated

1.adverbB2
Definition

to an extent that is almost total or complete, so that something can be treated as such for practical purposes

Example

The project is virtually complete, with only a few small tasks left.

virtually + adjective (complete)

Imran virtually lived at the library during exam season.

virtually + verb (lived) for near-total behaviour

Common collocations
  • virtually impossible
  • virtually identical
  • virtually unknown
  • virtually complete
  • virtually all
  • virtually no
  • virtually every
Synonyms
  • almost

    more common in everyday speech; slightly more direct than virtually

  • nearly

    best for measurable quantities (nearly finished, nearly full); more neutral

  • practically

    more informal; emphasises the practical effect rather than numerical closeness

  • essentially

    focuses on the core quality; 'He is essentially the boss' means he functions as the boss

Antonyms
  • completely

    no gap between what is stated and reality; opposite of the 'almost but not quite' meaning

  • entirely

    signals a full, unqualified state; 'entirely new' means new in every way

Grammar Patterns

virtually + adjective

virtually + verb

Usage Note

Commonly modifies adjectives (impossible, identical, unknown) and verbs (disappear, complete). It softens absolute statements — 'virtually impossible' leaves a small opening that 'impossible' does not. Avoid using for physical measurements ('virtually full of water'); use 'nearly' or 'almost' instead.

Common Mistakes

The glass is virtually full of water.
The glass is nearly full of water.
'virtually' is used for abstract closeness or completeness, not for measuring physical contents by sight.
I am virtually certain that he will come.
I am almost certain that he will come.
'certain' already expresses firm belief; 'virtually certain' is acceptable in formal writing but 'almost certain' sounds more natural in conversation.

2. describes actions or events that take place through computers and internet conne

2.adverbB1
Definition

describes actions or events that take place through computers and internet connections, replacing the need for people to be in the same physical location

Example

Many students now attend classes virtually from their own homes.

virtually + attend — common pattern for remote learning

The team held the meeting virtually using a video call service.

passive pattern: held virtually

Common collocations
  • attend virtually
  • meet virtually
  • work virtually
  • hold virtually
  • tour virtually
  • participate virtually
  • conduct virtually
  • take place virtually
Synonyms
  • online

    broader term; simply means via the internet, without the 'replacing a physical experience' nuance

  • remotely

    focuses on distance rather than technology; 'work remotely' can mean from any location

  • digitally

    emphasises the use of digital technology rather than physical presence

Antonyms
  • in person

    face-to-face, with physical presence; opposite of doing something through a screen

  • physically

    involving real bodies or objects in a real space

Grammar Patterns

virtually + verb (activity)

be + virtually + past participle

Usage Note

Unlike 'online', which simply means connected to the internet, 'virtually' in this sense emphasises the replacement of a physical experience with a digital one. Common with verbs like attend, meet, visit, tour, hold, work, participate, and conduct. Often contrasts with 'in person' in the same sentence.

Common Mistakes

I am virtually tired' (meaning 'I feel tired in a simulated way').
I feel tired.
'virtually' in this sense does not describe personal feelings; it describes how activities or events are carried out.
We met virtually on the street.
We met virtually on a video call.
'virtually' needs a digital context; do not pair it with physical locations.

Word family

  • virtual
    adjectiveB1
  • virtue
    nounB2
  • virtualize
    verbC1
  • virtualization
    nounC1
  • virtual reality
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Almost is the most general and neutral of these four, suitable for any context where something falls just short of a goal ('almost finished'). Nearly is preferred with numbers and measurements ('nearly 200 people'), and carries a slightly more objective tone. Practically overlaps with virtually but feels more informal and everyday; it stresses what the real-world effect is ('practically no difference'). Essentially shifts focus from quantity to core identity — it means 'when you look at the most important features' ('He is essentially self-taught'). Virtually sits close to practically in register but often appears in slightly more formal or written contexts. Use virtually when you want to emphasise that the gap between what is said and what is real is too small to matter in practice: 'The work is virtually done' suggests only trivial finishing touches remain.

almost ↗nearly ↗practically ↗essentially ↗

Etymology

LatinLate LatinMedieval FrenchEnglish

Comes from the Latin 'virtus', meaning strength or excellence. In Late Latin, 'virtualis' developed the sense 'having power or effect without physical form'. This idea of 'being something in effect though not in name' entered English in the 1600s. The computer meaning emerged in the 1950s with 'virtual memory' (simulated extra memory) and expanded in the 1990s with the internet to describe meetings, classrooms, and other activities conducted through screens instead of in person.