practically

practically — adverb

1. used to say something is so close to being true, complete, or total that any sma

1.副詞B2
釋義

used to say something is so close to being true, complete, or total that any small difference does not really matter — often with a slight feeling of exaggeration.

例句

By eight o'clock the cinema was practically empty, with only three people left in the back row.

practically + adjective for emphasizing closeness

Lina has lived in Tainan for twenty years, so she knows practically every food stall in the city.

practically + every / all for near-totality

同義詞
  • almost

    neutral and more common in formal writing

  • nearly

    very close synonym; slightly more measured, less exaggerated

  • virtually

    stronger sense of 'in effect the same as'; common in writing

  • all but

    more literary; usually before an adjective or past participle

反義詞
  • barely

    describes the opposite end — only just true rather than nearly fully true

文法句型

practically + adjective

practically + verb

practically + noun phrase

用法筆記

Common before adjectives, quantifiers (every, all, no, none, nothing), and verbs of state or change. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense answers 'how close?' and can be replaced by 'almost'; sense 2 answers 'how?' and means 'in a real-world way'.

常見錯誤

❌I have practically finished the report yesterday.
✅I had practically finished the report by yesterday.
💡with 'practically' meaning 'almost', use a tense that allows a near-complete state, not a finished past action.

2. by focusing on what actually works in daily life and on real actions, rather tha

2.副詞C1
釋義

by focusing on what actually works in daily life and on real actions, rather than on theories, feelings, or hopes.

例句

Try to think practically about your budget before you book a six-week holiday in Iceland.

think practically about + decision

The course teaches students how to apply economic theories practically in small businesses.

apply + practically

同義詞
  • realistically

    focuses on what is possible given real limits

  • sensibly

    stresses good judgment more than real-world action

  • pragmatically

    more formal; emphasizes results over principles

反義詞

文法句型

verb + practically

think / speak / approach + practically

用法筆記

Modifies verbs of thinking, planning, teaching, or acting. Often contrasts an idea or feeling with real action — watch for nearby words like 'theory', 'in theory', 'emotionally', or 'on paper'. Distinguish from sense 1: here 'practically' cannot be replaced by 'almost'.

常見錯誤

❌She is a practically person who solves problems quickly.
✅She is a practical person who solves problems quickly.
💡use the adjective 'practical' before a noun, not the adverb 'practically'.