in theory

idiom

—used to say what should happen or be true if a theory is correct

In theory, the reading skills of the students should improve.

—used to say that something seems to be true or possible as an idea but may not actually be true or possible

I agree with you in theory, but realistically I don't think we have the time to do that.

Examples of in theory in a Sentence

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Learn in practice, not in theory One thing is abundantly clear: employees want upskilling. —

Aytekin Tank, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 The Infinite Monkey Theorem hypothesizes that, given a typewriter and an infinite amount of time, a monkey could in theory produce the full works of William Shakespeare. —

David Hodari, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2024 Integrating pharmacists more tightly with clinical prescribing should, in theory, cut costs and improve outcomes — but the formula has proved tricky, Van Antwerp says. —

Claire Rychlewski, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024 Choosing these moves seems like the obvious choice, in theory, but boss fights require careful assessment before committing to any strategy. —

Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for in theory