1620s, "in a practical manner, from a practical point of view," from practical + -ly (2). Meaning "for practical purposes, as good as, in effect, so far as results and relations are concerned," is from 1748; loosened sense of "almost" is from 1869.
he was practically the only guest at the party
there was practically no garden at all
practically the first thing I saw when I got off the train
a brilliant man but so practically inept that he needed help to cross the road safely
practically orientated institutions such as business schools
practically everything in Hinduism is the manifestation of a god
practic
practicability
practicable
practical
practicality
practically
practice
practiced
practician
practicing
practicum
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