theoretically
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
used to say that something could happen or be true, but it has not been proven yet.
used to describe a situation that is possible according to a set of rules or assumptions, though it may not be the case in practice.
Simple“Theoretically, the journey should only take two hours, but the traffic is often terrible.”
In context“Theoretically, the new engine design should reduce fuel consumption by twenty percent, though real-world testing has yet to confirm these laboratory results.”
Usageoften used at the beginning of a sentence to set a hypothetical frame.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
in a way that relates to the ideas or principles of a subject rather than the practice.
in a manner relating to the theory or underlying principles of a specific field of study.
Simple“The students studied the subject theoretically before they started the practical lab work.”
In context“The paper explores the problem theoretically, establishing a mathematical framework before suggesting any specific engineering applications.”
Usagefrequently appears in academic writing to distinguish conceptual work from applied work.
SynonymsAntonyms
Usage theoretically possible
From theoretical + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.