in theory

idiom

1
used to say what should happen or be true if a theory is correct
In theory, the reading skills of the students should improve.
2
used to say that something seems to be true or possible as an idea but may not actually be true or possible
I agree with you in theory, but realistically I don't think we have the time to do that.

Examples of in theory in a Sentence

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The goal: to understand how corporate purpose affects team commitment - not in theory, but in practice. Hec Paris Insights, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025 Yes, in theory, but in practice, there's something else afoot. Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025 This may sound nice in theory — but there can be some pretty serious consequences down the line. Jessica Rendall, Space.com, 7 July 2025 The calculation, in theory, frees analysts from the ambiguity of some potentially misleading factors (like population) and allows for easy comparisons across counties, states, and countries. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for in theory

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“In theory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20theory. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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