practicallyprac‧ti‧cally /ˈpræktɪkli/ ●●○ adverb 
I’ve read practically all of his books. She sees him practically every day. It’s practically impossible to predict what will happen. The two designs were practically identical.► see thesaurus at almost2in a sensible way which takes account of problems: ‘But how can we pay for it?’ said John practically.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Practically everyone from work was at the party.
- Joey just doesn't think practically.
- Linda practically jumped out of her chair when the phone rang.
- Advertising was practically never used, even in the early 1970s when the use of search by companies was much less widespread.
- As frailty increases that kind of basic tending by the family may ease the terminal phase for everyone, practically and emotionally.
- In fact, both practically and philosophically our reality often turns out not to be very real.
- That is why there are so many books on management published and that is why I have read practically all of them.
- You practically jumped on me when we met.
- You can practically hear the toilets flushing.
THESAURUS
not completely or not quite: · I’ve almost finished my essay.· It's almost lunchtime.
almost. Nearly is more commonly used in British English than American English: · I’ve been a teacher for nearly 10 years now.· It’s very nearly time to go home.
almost, but not yet: · ‘Is he 60?’ ‘Not quite!’· It’s not quite time to go yet.· I’m not quite ready yet.
very nearly: · The room was practically empty.practically all/everything/everyone etc: · The frost killed practically every plant in the garden.· Virtually everyone had gone home.
especially spoken very nearly – use this when saying that the difference is not important: · All the rooms are more or less the same size.· His jacket was pretty much the same colour as his trousers.· The policy will benefit just about everyone.
British English informal, getting on toward especially American English informal almost a particular time, age, or period of time – used especially when you are not sure of the exact time, age etc: · It’s getting on for 10 years since we last saw each other.· ‘How old’s Diane?’ ‘She must be getting on toward 50.’
almost a particular number, amount, or time – used especially when the number or amount is surprisingly large or the time is very late: · It was close to midnight by the time we arrived.· They’ve spent close to $1.3 billion on the project.
almost – used when a number or amount is still increasing or a time is getting nearer: · The unemployment rate was nearing 20%.
to be very close to doing something: · She was on the verge of tears (=almost crying).· I was on the verge of giving up.· They were on the verge of making a decision.
to be very close to an extremely bad situation: · The two countries are on the brink of war.· The company was on the brink of bankruptcy.
Longman Language Activatoralmost all: almost all/every/everything/everyone · Almost all the wine had been drunk.· The burglars took nearly everything in the house that was of any value.· Almost everyone in the office has had the flu this year.
: practically all/everything/everyone etc very nearly all: · The frost killed practically every plant in the garden.· Virtually everyone had gone home.
especially spoken: just about all/everything/everyone etc very nearly all - use this when saying that the difference is not important: · I've packed pretty much everything I need for the trip.· It rains more or less every day here in November.· Sonya knew more or less everyone at the party.· She's travelled in just about every country in Europe.· The second-hand shop on the corner sells just about anything.
when something is almost true · His hair was almost white.· The moon was almost full that night.· Persuading Paul to change his mind is nearly impossible.
not completely, but almost - use this to say that something is not true, but it is almost true: · That's a good answer but it's not quite correct.· It's not quite red, it's more like a maroon color.· The orbits of the planets are almost circular, but not quite.
very nearly: · The cupboard was practically empty.· Carbon fibre tennis racquets are virtually unbreakable.· She looks practically the same as his last girlfriend.
especially spoken very nearly - use this when saying that the difference is not important: · All the rooms are more or less the same size.· His jacket was pretty much the same colour as his trousers.· Until the 18th century, the region remained more or less independent.
if a guess at a number, amount etc is close , it is almost correct but not exactly right: · "I reckon he's about 65." "You're close - he's 67."
when you have almost done something or something has almost happened · I've almost finished reading the newspaper.· It was early 1945, and the war had nearly ended.
especially spoken not completely or exactly, but almost - use this when the difference is not important: · Hanson's acting career appears to be pretty much over.· I had more or less convinced her that I was telling the truth.
almost completely: · Communist parties have practically disappeared in Europe.· Mexico's rainforest has been virtually destroyed.
not completely, but almost - use this to say that something has not happened, but that it almost has: not quite done/finished etc: · She hasn't quite finished her homework yet.· Give me five minutes - I'm not quite ready.
: all but over/finished/done very nearly finished or done: · By now the war was all but over.· "Can we go home now?" "Just one moment - I've all but finished my work."
almost at or in a particular situation, especially an extreme one: · The police describe the situation as approaching crisis proportions.· Dr Dunstable was in a state nearing nervous collapse.· I felt close to tears as I read Vera's letter.
to be very close to an extremely bad situation: · The two countries are on the brink of war.be on the verge of tears/death/hysteria etc: · Kerry is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I’ve read practically all of his books. She sees him practically every day.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES On a Sunday morning traffic was almost nonexistent.
I’ve read practically all of his books. She sees him practically every day. (=almost impossible)· Getting tickets for the concert is practically impossible.
On a Sunday morning traffic was almost nonexistent.· These flaws could make the software virtually useless in a business environment.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· I was practically certain that Hertz Lipmann was not a provocateur.· This seems practically certain from the plan he devised for killing Perseus.
· It was hot in the thin corridor, and the hanging husks made going forwards practically impossible.· And it would be practically impossible to require a teacher to watch each student at all times.· The ground was frozen, and digging foundations was practically impossible in such drastic weather conditions.· These are a large number of possibilities and they would be practically impossible to distinguish by breeding experiments.· This would lead to a mixing of chemicals and cause explosions that together with flooding would make evacuation practically impossible.· Amongst black school leavers, finding a job is practically impossible.· This reversal would have been practically impossible under Gats.
· So long as a tiger stands still or moves slowly, its stripes make it practically invisible in the jungle or among reeds.
· We would have liked to build, but planning permission in Snowdonia National Park was practically nonexistent.· But checking with knowledgeable people at the Vermont Maple Laboratory, I found that the literature was practically nonexistent.· As it turns out, the Hare virus was practically nonexistent.· Her technique as a performer is practically nonexistent.
· They will also do everything practically possible to protect the public.· In the high-pressured and directive context of undergraduate teaching it may be desirable, but is not practically possible.· In this exploratory project this was neither sensible nor practically possible.· The aim was to restore as far as was practically possible the conditions of the pre-First World War era.
VERB· In fact, Beaton suggested, the screen had become practically their only source of inspiration.· During the past couple of years, Jerry had practically become his younger alter ego.· The question has become practically irrelevant, but not politically or morally so.· Jaq suspected that their recycling and export trade had practically become instinctive.· The surface is physically modified, and the painting becomes practically illegible.
· You practically live in the place.· Soon, Miss Monti began to practically live at the house.· Apparently I practically lived in the Bedford for weeks after that.· I practically lived at the plant.· We practically lived together the last three summers, and she wanted to hide it from him.· He practically lived at the Metropolitan on Fourteenth Street.
· She had not made Dan go, he had practically run out of her life.· As a result of her actions, Amelia became even more popular and within a short time was practically running Ogontz.· You practically run the business downstairs.· Once, when I ask how her son is doing, she practically runs from the room.
WORD FAMILYnounpracticalpracticalitiespracticality ≠ impracticalitypracticability ≠ impracticabilityadjectivepracticable ≠ impracticablepractical ≠ impracticaladverbpractically ≠ impracticallypracticably ≠ impracticably
1especially spoken almost: I’ve read practically all of his books. She sees him practically every day. It’s practically impossible to predict what will happen. The two designs were practically identical.► see thesaurus at almost2in a sensible way which takes account of problems: ‘But how can we pay for it?’ said John practically.