viral

[ vahy-ruhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by a virus.
2. pertaining to or involving the spreading of information and opinions about a product or service from person to person, especially on the internet or in emails: viral marketing.

   a clever viral ad.

3. becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the internet:

   the most memorable viral videos;

   This book is already viral two weeks before its official publication date.

4. pertaining to a computer virus.

viral

/ ˈvaɪrəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by a virus
2. (of a video, image, story, etc) spread quickly and widely among internet users via social networking sites, e-mail, etc

Other Words From

• anti·viral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of viral¹

First recorded in 1935–40; vir(us) + -al ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go viral, to spread rapidly via the internet, email, or other media:

   Footage of the candidate's off-color remarks went viral within minutes.

Example Sentences

“Shoegaze is great for how emotional the music can get. Writing things that actually come from the heart is a lot more important than trying to write a song for the sake of going viral.”

From Los Angeles Times

The unsavoury moment was over in a blink of an eye and will now be viewed and shared endlessly as the final viral moment before tomorrow's fight.

From BBC

Morgan's Razzlekhan persona went viral on social media when the case emerged.

From BBC

Underlying the issue, he said, is a “fear that crime is more prevalent,” a perception fueled by viral videos of stores being robbed by large groups of teens.

From Los Angeles Times

In anticipation of Election Day, Trump was seen working the fry station during a viral visit to a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.

From Salon