hypothetically
- adverb
- /ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkli/
- Hypothetically, if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
- hypothetically speaking
- hypothetically possible
How would that hypothetically compare to your experience?
- How would that hypothetically compare to your experience?
- So let's just say hypothetically we are trying to design a website.
- Effectively that, OK, this would hypothetically allow this to sit flatter under the armpit.
- So let's now go to our primordial black holes, which CERN hypothetically could make.
- And I'm not particularly interested in the hedonistic end of what wealth might hypothetically bring to you.
- But if you hypothetically do not have that gene, then you do not have celiac disease.
- And these items all hypothetically describe you as a person, OK?
- I'm human like, but like, hypothetically, like, what would a robot look like?
- OK, Hypothetically, you kiss with your eyes open or closed?
- Like those weird sort of hypothetically, like maybe we're just thinking about the human mind.
Examples
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So let's just say hypothetically we are trying to design a website.
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How would that hypothetically compare to your experience?
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And just say hypothetically, this works great.
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Suppose you have, hypothetically, someone in Germany who has a good product that has been approved by the Commission.
Academic text (1999) -
But hypothetically, how long would it take you to deploy?
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But let's just say hypothetically, I was going to propose to you.
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Hypothetically, if you do find the bags will you be going through them?
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Hypothetically, both parents provide a more stable environment in which values can be reinforced.
Academic text (2005) -
Becky and I have had several discussions about this hypothetically, and we both share the same opinion.
Blog text (11) -
I obviously don't agree with your conclusions, but let's say that, hypothetically, you are spot on.
Blog text (1)
Synonyms
Say or do something while guessing without firm proof
In theory or for calculation, it is not actually real
Antonyms
How Speculative
Surface Forms
Morphology
hypothetically = hypothetical (transparent) = hypothetical + ly
The adverb is formed by the productive English suffix '-ly' added to the adjective 'hypothetical', so the meaning 'in a hypothetical manner' is directly predictable.
Etymology
Hypothetically comes from the parts hypo- meaning 'under' and thesis meaning 'placing', and is related to hypothesis, an 'idea' you offer to test. So to speak hypothetically is to 'suppose' or 'imagine' something that is not a fact, just to think about it for discussion.