viral
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describes a video, photo, or story that spreads very quickly across the internet as people share it.
adj.relating to or involving the rapid, exponential spread of information or content via social media and peer-to-peer sharing.
Simple“The video of the dancing cat went viral and got millions of views in just one day.”
In context“The marketing team hoped the short documentary would go viral, generating organic brand awareness without the need for a traditional advertising budget.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.caused by or relating to a virus, which is a tiny living thing that can make you sick.
adj.pertaining to, caused by, or of the nature of a biological virus.
Simple“The doctor said it was a viral infection, so antibiotics would not help.”
In context“Researchers are investigating the long-term effects of various viral strains on the human immune system to better prepare for future outbreaks.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.a way of selling things where customers tell their friends about a product.
adj.relating to a marketing strategy that relies on individuals to pass on a marketing message to others.
Simple“The company used viral marketing to create a lot of excitement before the phone was even released.”
In context“The success of the campaign was attributed to its clever use of viral loops, encouraging each new user to invite several others from their contact list.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
n.an image or video that has become very popular online.
n.a piece of digital content that has been circulated rapidly and widely from one internet user to another.
Simple“She was surprised when her simple drawing became a viral overnight.”
In context“The agency specialises in creating virals that look like amateur footage to increase their chances of being shared organically.”
Synonymsmemehit
Usage viral trends
“The viral, no-frills meal prep trend of meat and rice is popular among gym bros.”
“Wells went missing on 4 July and a photo of the teen, who was Black, and his three friends on the trip, who were white, went viral.”
From virus + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.