# physically

Pronunciation: US say "FIZ-i-klee" /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/; UK

## Adverb

1. In a physical way; in terms of the body or of material things.
   - Simple: In a way that has to do with your body or with things you can touch.
   - _By the end of the double shift, the nurses were physically and emotionally exhausted._
   - _The two brothers are physically alike but have very different personalities._
2. In accordance with the laws of physics.
   - Simple: In a way that follows the rules of physics.
   - _The engineers showed that the proposed engine was physically impossible, since it would create energy from nothing._
   - _No object with mass can physically reach the speed of light._
3. By means of physical force.
   - Simple: By using force against someone or something.
   - _Security staff physically removed the heckler from the meeting._
   - _She was physically assaulted outside her apartment building._
4. Directly, rather than automatically or by some similar means. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: By doing it yourself, not leaving it to happen on its own.
   - _The app wouldn't sync, so I had to physically copy every file onto the new laptop._
   - _You have to physically press the reset button, because the remote can't do it._

## Adverb

5. In accordance with the rules of medicine. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: In a way that follows the rules of medicine.

## Origin

Formed either from physic + -ally or from physical + -ly.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/physically (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).