viral

adjective

vi·​ral ˈvī-rəl How to pronounce viral (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or caused by a virus
a viral infection
2
: quickly and widely spread or popularized especially by means of social media
a viral video
virally
ˈvī-rə-lē How to pronounce viral (audio)
adverb
virality
vī-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce viral (audio)
noun

Examples of viral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The story effectively went viral, Churchill told me, and lock-picking competitions briefly exploded in popularity. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 Casting Bill Burr — the stand-up, who in recent years has repeatedly gone viral for speaking hard truths right to people’s face with all the bluntness of his blue-collar Boston roots — was a whole other layer of wish fulfillment for Sorkin. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026 Take Clinique’s Black Honey Almost Lipstick, launched in 1971 by the brand’s founder, Carol Philips, which went viral in 2021 on TikTok. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 The trailer for the movie, which includes a particularly frightening jump scare from Chastain as Other Mommy, went viral online after playing in front of theatrical screenings. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for viral

Word History

Etymology

vir(us) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of viral was in 1937

Phrases Containing viral

Rhymes for viral

See All Rhymes for viral

Browse Nearby Words

virago
viral
Virales
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Viral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viral. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

viral

adjective
vi·​ral ˈvī-rəl How to pronounce viral (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or caused by a virus
a viral infection
2
: quickly and widely spread or popularized especially by person-to-person electronic communication
a viral video

Medical Definition

viral

adjective
vi·​ral ˈvī-rəl How to pronounce viral (audio)
: of, relating to, or caused by a virus
viral infections
virally
-rə-lē How to pronounce viral (audio)
adverb
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