basically
Americanadverb
-
in a way that involves or affects the fundamental character or condition.
The building needs a few repairs, but is basically sound.
-
as a recap of the main point or idea; if put simply or briefly.
Basically, her advice boils down to “Eat a sensible, balanced diet, and relax.”
adverb
-
in a fundamental or elementary manner; essentially
strident and basically unpleasant
-
(sentence modifier) in essence; in summary; put simply
basically we had underestimated mother nature
Other Word Forms
- quasi-basically adverb
Etymology
Origin of basically
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I’m basically known for taking the good stuff and just getting the heck out of here.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
That’s basically a fixed cost for me, but the amount of help my two kids might need after they graduate college is controllable.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026
"The ICU Worlds is broadcast on the Olympic channel, so it's basically kind of like the Olympics of cheerleading," she says.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
At the Citrosuco plant in Polk County—which flew the Brazilian flag alongside the red, white, and blue—and at the Cutrale sites and even at Florida-based Peace River, it was basically Florida in name only.
From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026
More basically, Jefferson simply did not regard his behavior as seditious or treasonable.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
