essentially
/ɪˈsɛnʃəli/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
In an essential way. — In essence: by nature.
Adverb
Examples
Near-synonyms: actually, at bottom, at heart, basically, fundamentally, characteristically, centrally, substantially; see also Thesaurus:fundamentally
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
In an essential way. — In essence: in most ways that matter; in all ways that matter.
Adverb
Examples
A: So you're saying, in other words, that he's greedy? B: Essentially, yes, that's what I'm saying.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “essentially” mean?
In an essential way. — In essence: by nature.
Is “essentially” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.