Pronunciation

/bəˈsɪsəli/

Definitions

• Adverb: Fundamentally; essentially; primarily. For example: “The project is basically a redesign of the user interface.”
• Adjective: At its core; fundamentally; primarily. For example: “The course is basically the same, but with updated material.”

Phrases

• “To be basically X” implies that something is fundamentally or essentially X.
• “His approach is basically straightforward.”
• “Their disagreement was basically over a minor detail.”

Example Sentences

• Adverb: “She’s basically a talented artist, but she needs more practice.”
• Adjective: “The car is basically unchanged since last year.”
• “His argument was basically sound, but the presentation could have been better.”

Synonyms

• Essentially
• Fundamentally
• Primarily
• Mainly
• Essentially speaking

Antonyms

• Essentially (no direct antonym, but opposites might include superficially or tangentially)
• Non-essentially
• Indifferently

Note: The adverb form of “basically” is not often used as a standalone verb, unlike other words like “hello” which can function both as a noun and verb. It’s mostly used as an adverb modifying verbs or adjectives.