hypothetically
adverb
hy·po·thet·i·cal·ly
ˌhī-pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 
: by making an assumption for the sake of discussion or argument : in a hypothetical way
speaking hypothetically
In this lucid report … he uses genetic differences, maps, computer simulations and an analysis of linguistic changes in the world's languages to hypothetically reconstruct the mass migrations of people across continents since modern humans first appeared.—
Genevieve Stuttaford
Genevieve StuttafordWe asked ourselves hypothetically: If the chairmen of the boards of these major tobacco companies walked in here today and said, "Okay, we're ready to do a deal," what did we want?—Lewis H. Lapham
—used to suggest what is theoretically possibleLewis H. LaphamHypothetically, you could use a computer to synthesize a large number of harmonics, add them back together, and reproduce a sound similar to that of the bowed violin string.—Dragan Huterer
Dragan HutererExamples of hypothetically in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If, hypothetically, Painter were to make three starts of two innings followed by three starts of three innings, three starts of four innings, and three starts of five innings, that would take him to the end of June.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
American investors could hypothetically gain exposure to Iran through investment funds in the Gulf, vehicles that Trump and his circle are very familiar with.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Those two results late Tuesday would mean Miami would be the ninth seed by winning out (including Wednesday in Chicago) and would be the eighth seed by winning out and Atlanta losing one of its final three after (hypothetically) losing Tuesday.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
So that is what GiveDirectly decided to do in Malawi, calculating that $550 would be enough to, hypothetically, close the poverty gap.
—Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2025
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Matt Gelb, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
American investors could hypothetically gain exposure to Iran through investment funds in the Gulf, vehicles that Trump and his circle are very familiar with.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Those two results late Tuesday would mean Miami would be the ninth seed by winning out (including Wednesday in Chicago) and would be the eighth seed by winning out and Atlanta losing one of its final three after (hypothetically) losing Tuesday.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
So that is what GiveDirectly decided to do in Malawi, calculating that $550 would be enough to, hypothetically, close the poverty gap.
—Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetically
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypothetically. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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