basically
adverbcommon in dialogue
- United States//ˈbeɪ.sɪk.(ə.)li//
- //ˈbeɪ.sɪk.koʊ.li//
In a fundamental, essential or basic manner.
adverb
- 1
In a fundamental, essential or basic manner.
They've added some fancy features, but it's basically still a crappy car.
- 2
Essentially; mostly; pretty much.
- 3
Used to refer to the most important or fundamental point that the speaker is making or to indicate a generalization or simplification; sometimes tending towards a meaningless filler word.
I shouldn't have done it, basically.
To get your eyes tested, you should basically go to the optician's.
Etymology
Etymology tree English basic Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al Middle English -ly Middle English -ally English -ally English basically From basic + -ally.
Forms
- comparative
- more basically
- superlative
- most basically
basically · In a fundamental, essential or basic manner.
basil · A plant (Ocimum basilicum).Basil · A male given name from Ancient Greek, in quiet but steady use…basin · A wide bowl for washing, sometimes affixed to a wall.