essentially

ADVERB

basically

Synonyms

STRONGEST

actually approximately necessarily originally permanently quite really substantially truly typically virtually

STRONG

fundamentally

WEAK

at heart at the heart of centrally characteristically chiefly determinately factually importantly in effect in essence indispensably inherently intimately intrinsically materially more or less so naturally primarily principally radically significantly vitally

Antonyms

STRONGEST

doubtfully

WEAK

apparently on the surface superficially

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The company has fused camera-like technology with lidar, which is essentially laser-based radar, at the microchip level.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

There was a really striking moment between Justice Jackson and Solicitor General John Sauer, where he essentially said, None of those statements that you just quoted actually mention race.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

I’ll spare you the technical details, but it’s essentially what serves the raw information that ends up on your dashboard.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

Jet fuel is essentially a highly refined form of kerosene with specialised additives, and is usually produced from fractional distillation of crude oil.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

We had a big yard and a garage in the back, and that became his new workshop, essentially.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

Vocabulary lists containing essentially

Amari and the Night Brothers

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