remotely

Imagine a pilot guiding a drone from miles away. That is one common way this word is used. It often means doing something from a different place, usually with the help of technology. You might work remotely from home instead of going into an office, staying connected by computer while being somewhere else. It can also describe a very small chance or degree. If something is remotely possible, there is still a small chance that it could happen. Think of it as describing a gap, either in distance or in how likely something is.

The word "remotely" describes an action or state occurring from a distance, whether that distance is physical, technological, or purely metaphorical. At its core, it implies a lack of direct, hands-on contact.

In the modern world, you likely hear it most in the context of "working remotely." This means performing job duties outside of a traditional office—perhaps from home, a café, or even a different continent. Thanks to the internet, we can collaborate remotely, bridging the physical gap through screens and software. For example: "The company allows employees to work remotely two days a week."

However, "remotely" is also used to describe a very small degree of something. If you say something is "remotely possible," you are suggesting that while a chance exists, it is very slim. Conversely, it is frequently used in negative sentences to mean "not at all" or "not in the slightest." If a movie isn't "even remotely funny," it means there wasn't a single laugh to be found.

Historically, "remotely" stems from the Latin remotus, meaning "removed" or "set back." While the adjective "remote" describes a far-away place or a distant person, the adverb "remotely" describes the way we work, the way we connect, or the tiny extent to which something might be true. Whether you are controlling a satellite from Earth or trying to see if a plan is remotely feasible, the word always points to a gap that hasn't been fully closed.