practically
PRAK-tihk-lee
Practically (adv) means Almost entirely; nearly. Example: “It rained so much that the pitch was practically a lake.”
adv
1
Almost entirely; nearly.
"The turnip is one of the lordliest vegetables in the world; its broth is practically a soup in itself."
— Robert Farrar Capon, Living Water (1969)
"It rained so much that the pitch was practically a lake."
"I have practically finished the book; only two chapters remain."
"The store was practically empty by closing time."
"The first summer on record that melts practically all of the Arctic’s floating sea ice could occur as early as the 2030s, according to a new scientific study — about a decade sooner than researchers previously predicted."
— Raymond Zhong, Arctic Summer Could Be Practically Sea-Ice-Free by the 2030s (2023)
"He was practically uneducated, barely able to read and write a simple sentence."
2
In a practical, realistic way.
"Practically speaking, a small car is easier to park in town."
"She approached the problem practically, listing what could realistically be done this week."
"We need to think practically about our budget."
How to use practically
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMeans "almost" in casual use, or "in a realistic, sensible way" in a more formal sense.
Common pairings
practically impossible
practically speaking
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more practically
- Superlative
- most practically
Fill the gap
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It rained so much that the pitch was _____ a lake.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for practically
See all rhymes for practically →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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