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.
But the talent for going viral that helped Ramaswamy gain a national profile has proved less successful this election cycle in Ohio. — Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026 Amalia Ulman’s 2025 film Magic Farm, about an American team’s desperation to manufacture a viral trend in rural Argentina, is minor cringe for its pleasurable skewering of the attention economy. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 The store reportedly received a wave of negative Google reviews after the singer’s comments went viral. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 The 44-minute call and the memo Between sips of Guinness—a moment of apparent wincing by Zuckerberg went viral—the pair recounted how their partnership began. — Emma Witman, Fortune, 17 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 20 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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