# viral

/ˈvaɪɹəɫ/ (US) · /vˈaɪəɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/viral
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. internet popularity

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

describes a video, photo, or story that spreads very quickly across the internet as people share it.

For teachers: relating to or involving the rapid, exponential spread of information or content via social media and peer-to-peer sharing.

- The video of the dancing cat went viral and got millions of views in just one day.
- The marketing team hoped the short documentary would go viral, generating organic brand awareness without the need for a traditional advertising budget.

### 2. medical

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

caused by or relating to a virus, which is a tiny living thing that can make you sick.

For teachers: pertaining to, caused by, or of the nature of a biological virus.

- The doctor said it was a viral infection, so antibiotics would not help.
- Researchers are investigating the long-term effects of various viral strains on the human immune system to better prepare for future outbreaks.

### 3. marketing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

a way of selling things where customers tell their friends about a product.

For teachers: relating to a marketing strategy that relies on individuals to pass on a marketing message to others.

- The company used viral marketing to create a lot of excitement before the phone was even released.
- 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.

### 4. a popular post

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

an image or video that has become very popular online.

For teachers: a piece of digital content that has been circulated rapidly and widely from one internet user to another.

- She was surprised when her simple drawing became a viral overnight.
- The agency specialises in creating virals that look like amateur footage to increase their chances of being shared organically.

## Examples

- Her funny video went viral overnight.
- The marketing team hoped the new campaign would go viral and reach millions of potential customers without a large ad spend.
- 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.

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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.