basically
UK/'beisikli/US
NGSL 2kA2
Definitions
adv.
In the most essential respects; fundamentally
基本上，根本上
adv.
Used to summarize or simplify what you are saying
说白了，总的来说（用于概括）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedbasic + -ally = 'at the foundation, in essence.' In speech it became a filler that boils things down: 'Basically, we ran out of time.' It signals you are giving the core point, stripped of detail.
Root bas still carries 5 more wordsUsage Guide
Register: as a sentence-opener ('Basically, ...') it is informal and very common in speech, used to summarize. In formal writing, prefer fundamentally or essentially. It is often a softener or filler — easy to overuse.
Example Sentences
- 1.
Basically, the plan didn't work as expected.
- 2.
The two phones are basically the same.
- 3.
He basically apologized without saying sorry.