practically

comparative more practically · superlative most practically

1. In practice; in effect or in actuality, though possibly not officially, technically, or legally.

   Stalin was not technically or legally the head of state but was practically so.

   1 more example

   It is true that the Articles of the [Argentine] Constitution promise fair conditions under which to live; but, unfortunately, the self-same Constitution, in the hands of unscrupulous administrators, becomes so elastic as to be practically a dead letter.

   1893, C. E. Akers, “The Argentine Position”, in Argentine, Patagonian, and Chilian Sketches, with a Few Notes on Uruguay., London: Harrison and Sons, page 12

   Synonyms: de facto, effectively, as much as

2. Almost completely; almost entirely.

   Near-synonyms: effectively, nearly, virtually

   4 more examples

   He was practically uneducated, barely able to read and write a simple sentence.

   If the ranchero had practically all the water near him, he had also practically all the cattle, […]

   1898, E[merson] Hough, “The Round-Up”, in The Story of the Cowboy, New York: D. Appleton and Company, page 153

   The turnip is one of the lordliest vegetables in the world; its broth is practically a soup in itself.

   1969, Robert Farrar Capon, “Living Water”, in The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection

   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.

   2023 June 6, Raymond Zhong, “Arctic Summer Could Be Practically Sea-Ice-Free by the 2030s”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 06 Jul 2023

   Synonyms: effectively, nearly, virtually

3. With respect to practices or a practice.

   He was practically educated and lacked theoretical depth.

   1 more example

   He wasn't very good with words or numbers; he was more of a practically minded person

4. In a way that is practical: feasibly; unchallengingly.

   practically achievable

   Synonyms: practicably