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Synonyms

practically

American  
[prak-tik-lee] / ˈpræk tɪk li /

adverb

  1. in effect; virtually.

    It is practically useless to protest.

  2. in a practical manner.

    to think practically.

  3. from a practical point of view.

    Practically speaking, the plan is not very promising.

  4. almost; nearly.

    Their provisions were practically gone.
practically British  
/ -klɪ, ˈpræktɪkəlɪ /

adverb

  1. virtually; almost

    it has rained practically every day

  2. in actuality rather than in theory

    what can we do practically to help?
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

A few usage guides object to the use of practically in the senses “in effect, virtually” and “almost, nearly.” Both uses, however, are well established and standard in all varieties of speech and writing.

Etymology

Origin of practically

First recorded in 1615–25; practical + -ly

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.

No. This man practically saved Southern California from itself, and we didn’t even name a freeway off-ramp in his honor.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Gosling is typically terrific, but “Project Hail Mary” is practically tailor-made for his brand of disarming allure.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Before they get to scholarship level, players would be assessed at 14 to see what education pathway suits them - whether they are academic or more practically inclined.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

By the end, "the village was practically deserted", she said, getting emotional as she described her tulip-filled home.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

She stood before the screen, certain she could practically smell the restaurant, the heavy perfumes of a room full of divas and ingénues.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

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.