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adv B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

practically

PRAK-tihk-lee

Practically (adv) means Almost entirely; nearly. Example: “The store was practically empty by closing time.”

adv
1
Almost entirely; nearly.
"The store was practically empty by closing time."
2
In a practical, realistic way.
"We need to think practically about our budget."

How to use practically

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMeans "almost" in casual use, or "in a realistic, sensible way" in a more formal sense.

Common pairings
practically impossible practically speaking

Word forms

more practically comparative, most practically superlative

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Test yourself on “practically” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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The store was _____ empty by closing time.

Related words

Rhymes for practically

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Frequently asked questions

What does “practically” mean?

The word “practically” means almost entirely; nearly. In plain terms, means "almost" in casual use, or "in a realistic, sensible way" in a more formal sense.

How do you pronounce “practically”?

“Practically” is pronounced PRAK-tihk-lee (/ˈpɹæktɪk(ə)li/ in IPA).

How do you use “practically” in a sentence?

Here is “practically” used in a sentence: “The store was practically empty by closing time.”

What is another word for “practically”?

Words with a similar meaning to “practically” include all but.

What is the opposite of “practically”?

The opposite of “practically” — its antonyms — is impractically.

What part of speech is “practically”?

“Practically” is an adverb.

Is “practically” a common word?

“Practically” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “practically” have?

“Practically” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: almost entirely; nearly.

What is the difference between 'practically' and 'virtually'?

In the sense of 'almost,' 'practically' and 'virtually' are largely interchangeable, as in 'practically empty' or 'virtually empty.' 'Practically' can additionally mean 'in a realistic, sensible way,' a meaning 'virtually' does not carry.

What is the difference between 'practically' and 'practicably'?

'Practically' usually means 'almost' or 'in a practical way,' while 'practicably' means 'in a way that is feasible or able to be done.' The two are easy to confuse, but 'as soon as practicable' specifically means as soon as it is realistically possible.

Does 'practically' mean 'almost' or 'in a practical way'?

'Practically' can mean either, and context decides which. In 'we're practically there' it means 'almost,' while in 'she thinks practically' it means 'in a realistic, sensible way.'

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