Practically

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹæktɪk(ə)li/

Definitions

1. In a manner that underscores almost total truth or effectiveness, prioritizing actionable outcomes over theoretical considerations
2. In a way that highlights significant utility or realism, focusing more on practical application than on theoretical aspects
3. To a degree that is nearly complete or almost total, indicating something is virtually the case ; in a manner that focuses on usefulness and actual application rather than theory

Etymology: "Practically" is a plain formation: the adjective "practical" plus the adverbial suffix "-ly". The suffix has a long ancestry, descending from a Proto-Germanic word meaning "body" or "form", which came to mean "like" or "in the manner of" as a suffix. Its Old English form was "-līce", which became Middle English "-ly" and, as it fused with words over centuries, turned a description of shape into a marker of manner. The adjective "practical" carries the more interesting story. It descends from the Greek "praktikos", meaning "concerned with action", from "prassein", "to do", and passed into English through Latin and French. The word's core sense has always been doing rather than merely knowing, which is why "practically" can mean both "in effect, almost" and "in a useful, applied way". The two senses sit side by side: one concerns outcome, the other method, and English speakers use both without strain.

Synonyms: almost, virtually, nearly, effectively

Antonyms: theoretically, impractically