Virtually Meaning

UK /ˈvɜːtʃʊəli/
US /ˈvɜːrtʃuəli/
Word Definition
virtually meaning

Virtually Definition & Usage

adverb

In essence or effect, but not in actual fact; nearly, almost.

Examples

  • "The two teams are virtually identical in terms of performance this season."
  • "The new software update is virtually seamless, making the user experience smoother."
  • "They've virtually completed the project, but there's still some minor tweaking to do."
  • "The competition was virtually over by the time the second half began."
  • "After the remodel, the house was virtually unrecognizable."
adverb

Existing in or simulated by a virtual environment, particularly within digital or technological contexts.

Examples

  • "He attended the meeting virtually due to a scheduling conflict."
  • "In the game, you can virtually travel to different planets."
  • "She gave a presentation to the team virtually using a video call."
  • "The company has adopted a virtually paperless workflow to improve efficiency."
  • "With augmented reality, you can virtually place furniture in your room before buying it."

Cultural Context

'Virtually' has its origins in Latin, where 'virtus' referred to power or potential, leading to its current sense of something nearly true or in effect but not wholly so. The modern usage of 'virtually' has broadened, especially in the digital age, to include virtual reality, simulations, and digital environments.

A Virtual Reality

Story

A Virtual Reality

It was the day of the big presentation. Amelia had worked tirelessly for weeks, designing a new software interface for the company. The launch event was supposed to be held in the conference room, but with the sudden rise in flu cases, everyone had been asked to attend virtually instead. She sat in front of her computer, feeling a bit uneasy. How could she make her presentation stand out when everyone was just staring at a screen? As the time for the meeting approached, Amelia felt the weight of anticipation. The team members appeared on the video call, some with coffee mugs, others with expressions of impatience. Amelia started her slide show, her voice clear as she explained the new software’s features. ‘This update will make your tasks virtually effortless,’ she said, showing off the sleek new interface. ‘It’s virtually like having an extra assistant at your fingertips.’ The virtual meeting went smoothly, but as she clicked through the slides, Amelia realized how the word ‘virtually’ had been woven into every feature of the software. ‘You can virtually control the software with just a few clicks,’ she explained. ‘It’s virtually self-explanatory, making it easy for new users to adopt right away.’ After the presentation, Amelia joined a smaller team meeting. One colleague mentioned, ‘The software is virtually perfect, though we need to add one more feature.’ Another chimed in, ‘Yeah, the user experience is almost seamless, but we’ll need to tweak a few things.’ As Amelia left the virtual meeting room, she felt a sense of pride. Despite the challenges of presenting virtually, the project had come together perfectly. Her software wasn’t just virtually flawless; it was nearly revolutionary. The experience had felt almost real, even though they had all been on separate screens the entire time.

A Virtual Reality