empirically

Meaning

1. 1adverbnot comparableformal

   By means of observation, measurement or experiment, rather than by theory alone.

   Grammar: Often placed before a past participle: empirically tested.

   Patterns

   • empirically tested
   • empirically supported

   The drug was empirically tested on a thousand patients.

   The claim has never been proven empirically.

   Researchers measured the effect empirically over three years.

Common combinations

empirically tested

The method was empirically tested in schools.

empirically supported

The theory is empirically supported by new data.

empirically verify

We can empirically verify the result.

empirically grounded

The report is empirically grounded.

demonstrate empirically

The study demonstrates empirically that sleep improves memory.

Synonyms and how they differ

experimentally

Experimentally means through controlled tests, whereas empirically also includes simple observation.

observationally

Observationally refers to watching without interfering, which is narrower than empirically.

practically

Practically means in actual use, not necessarily with data.

factually

Factually means in relation to facts, but not through testing.

Opposites

Word family

empirical adjective

based on observation or experience

empiricism noun

the view that knowledge comes from experience

empiricist noun

a person who relies on evidence

empiric noun

a person relying on experience (rare)

Commonly confused: empirically or imperially? empirically or emphatically?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “empirically”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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