# hypothetically

/ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkɫi/ (US) · /hˌaɪpəθˈɛtɪkli/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hypothetically
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

used to talk about a situation that is not real or has not happened yet. You use it to imagine what might happen if something were true.

For teachers: in a manner that assumes a condition to be true, even if it is not necessarily the case. Often used to introduce a theoretical scenario or a conditional statement.

## Examples

- Hypothetically, what would you do if you won the lottery?
- If we hypothetically ignore the budget cuts, the project could be finished by next summer.
- The economist argued that even hypothetically, the market would stabilize if the central bank intervened immediately, though such a scenario remains highly unlikely.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.