1. (intensifier before a figurative expression) without exaggeration;
"our eyes were literally pinned to TV during the Gulf war"
2. in essence or effect but not in fact;
"the strike virtually paralyzed the city"
"I'm virtually broke"
3. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost';
"the job is (just) about done"
"the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded"