essentially

Universal Words adverb when you think about the true, important or basic nature of sb/sth SYNBASICALLY, FUNDAMENTALLY: There are three essentially different ways of tackling the problem. * The pattern is essentially the same in all cases. * Essentially, what we are suggesting is that the firm needs to change. * He was, essentially, a teacher, not a manager. * The article was essentially concerned with her relationship with her parents (= it dealt with other things, but this was the most important).