VIRTUALLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does virtually mean? 

• VIRTUALLY (adverb)
  The adverb VIRTUALLY has 2 senses:

1. in essence or effect but not in fact

2. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

  Familiarity information: VIRTUALLY used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VIRTUALLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In essence or effect but not in fact

Context example:

I'm virtually broke

Pertainym:

virtual (existing in essence or effect though not in actual fact)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

Synonyms:

about; almost; most; near; nearly; nigh; virtually; well-nigh

Context example:

most everyone agrees

 Context examples 

Containing virtually identical/similar beta and gamma chains, G proteins are most distinguished by alpha chains.

(G(i) Alpha, NCI Thesaurus)

CD45 antigen, a receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase essential for T cell development and lymphocyte activation, is expressed on virtually all leukocytes.

(Anti-CD45 Monoclonal Antibody BC8, NCI Thesaurus)

Nitric oxide regulates GPCR signaling across virtually all cell types and tissues.

(Heart Disease Severity May Depend on Nitric Oxide Levels, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A type of multiple endocrine neoplasia characterized by a virtually 100% incidence of medullary thyroid carcinoma, a 50% incidence of pheochromocytoma, and a lesser incidence of parathyroid adenomas associated with hyperparathyroidism.

(Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2A, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

If he always goes on in the same way, he must be, virtually, about two hundred years old, at present.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Found on virtually every cell, MHC (Major Histocompatibility, HLA) Class-I (Antigens) Proteins consist of noncovalently bound polymorphic 44-kDa MHC membrane glycoprotein and nonpolymorphic 12-kDa b2-microglobulin.

(MHC Class I Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

You shall be Mrs. Rochester—both virtually and nominally.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The papillary histologic variant occurs virtually exclusively in adults.

(Adult Craniopharyngioma, NCI Thesaurus)

Engineer Kathryn Grandfield helped the team verify the effectiveness of the surface by capturing electron microscope images showing that virtually no bacteria could transfer to the new surface.

(Scientists Create Superbug-Resistant Self-Cleaning Surface, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

As the method doesn’t rely on any cell-surface proteins expressed by tumor cells, it can be applied to virtually all cancers.

(Isolated cancer cells may lead to personalized treatments, NIH)