adv · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈpɹæktɪk(ə)li/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P R AE1 K T IH0 K L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:P R AE1 K T IH0 K AH0 L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In practice; in effect or in actuality, though possibly not officially, technically, or legally.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Stalin was not technically or legally the head of state but was practically so.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: de facto, effectively, as much as
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Almost completely; almost entirely.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Near-synonyms: effectively, nearly, virtually
He was practically uneducated, barely able to read and write a simple sentence.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: effectively, nearly, virtually
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
With respect to practices or a practice.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He wasn't very good with words or numbers; he was more of a practically minded person
He was practically educated and lacked theoretical depth.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adv
Meaning 4
In a way that is practical: feasibly; unchallengingly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
practically achievable
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: practicably
Antonyms: none provided
5
adverb
Meaning 5
(degree adverb used before a noun phrase) for all practical purposes but not completely
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
much the same thing happened every time
practically everything in Hinduism is the manifestation of a god
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: much
Antonyms: none provided
6
adverb
Meaning 6
in a practical manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
practically orientated institutions such as business schools
a brilliant man but so practically inept that he needed help to cross the road safely
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adverb
Meaning 7
almost; nearly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
practically the first thing I saw when I got off the train
he was practically the only guest at the party
there was practically no garden at all
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English practical Middle English -ly English -ly English practically From practical + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
34 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
عَمَلِيًّا
(ʕamaliyyan)
— In practice, in effect
Armenian:
փաստորեն
(pʻastoren)
— In practice, in effect
Bulgarian:
практически
(praktičeski)
— In practice, in effect
Catalan:
pràcticament
— In practice, in effect
Chinese Mandarin:
事實上 /事实上
(shìshí shàng)
— In practice, in effect
Finnish:
käytännössä
— In practice, in effect
Finnish:
käytännöllisesti katsoen
— In practice, in effect
Finnish:
käytännöllisesti katsottuna
— In practice, in effect
French:
pratiquement
— In practice, in effect
German:
praktisch
— In practice, in effect
Hungarian:
gyakorlatilag
— In practice, in effect
Polish:
praktycznie
— In practice, in effect
Russian:
практи́чески
(praktíčeski)
— In practice, in effect
Spanish:
prácticamente
— In practice, in effect
Swedish:
i praktiken
— In practice, in effect
Ukrainian:
практи́чно
(praktýčno)
— In practice, in effect
Armenian:
համարյա
(hamarya)
— almost completely
Bulgarian:
фактически
(faktičeski)
— almost completely
Bulgarian:
почти
(počti)
— almost completely
Catalan:
pràcticament
— almost completely
Catalan:
gairebé
— almost completely
Esperanto:
preskaŭ
— almost completely
Finnish:
lähes
— almost completely
Finnish:
käytännöllisesti katsoen
— almost completely
French:
quasiment
— almost completely
French:
pratiquement
— almost completely
Norwegian Bokmål:
praktisk talt
— almost completely
Norwegian Nynorsk:
praktisk talt
— almost completely
