ENGLISH
REFERENCE

viral

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈvaɪɹəɫ// UK //vˈaɪəɹəl// vi·ral

adj. spreading very quickly across the internet through social media and emails. You use this when a video, photo, or story becomes famous in a short time because many people share it.

adj. relating to or involving the rapid circulation of information, images, or video clips from one internet user to another. Often used in marketing contexts to describe content that achieves organic, exponential reach.


SIMPLE

Her funny video went viral overnight.

CONTEXTUAL

The marketing team hoped the new campaign would go viral and reach millions of potential customers without a large ad spend.

COMPLEX

In the digital age, a single poorly judged comment can go viral within minutes, permanently altering a brand's public image before a formal response can even be drafted.

Origin

From virus + -al.

Usage

Commonly follows the verb 'go' ('to go viral') to describe the process of becoming widely shared.

Pitfall

The video was viral by everyone.The video went viral.Learners sometimes treat 'viral' as a passive verb; however, it is an adjective usually paired with 'go' to describe a change in state.

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