literally
Americanadverb
-
in the literal or strict sense.
She failed to grasp the metaphor and interpreted the poem literally.
What does the word mean literally?
-
in a literal manner; word for word.
to translate literally.
-
actually; without exaggeration or inaccuracy.
The city was literally destroyed.
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in effect; in substance; very nearly; virtually.
I literally died when she walked out on stage in that costume.
adverb
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in a literal manner
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(intensifier)
there were literally thousands of people
Usage
Since the early 19th century, literally has been widely used as an intensifier meaning “in effect, virtually,” a sense that contradicts the earlier meaning “actually, without exaggeration”: The senator was literally buried alive in the Iowa primaries. The parties were literally trading horses in an effort to reach a compromise. The use is often criticized; nevertheless, it appears in all but the most carefully edited writing. Although this use of literally irritates some, it probably neither distorts nor enhances the intended meaning of the sentences in which it occurs. The same might often be said of the use of literally in its earlier sense “actually”: The garrison was literally wiped out: no one survived.
The use of literally as an intensifier is common, esp in informal contexts. In some cases, it provides emphasis without adding to the meaning: the house was literally only five minutes walk away. Often, however, its use results in absurdity: the news was literally an eye-opener to me. It is therefore best avoided in formal contexts
Etymology
Origin of literally
Explanation
The adverb literally means "actually," and we use it when we want others to know we're serious, not exaggerating or being metaphorical. If your mom complains that your room is overflowing with clothes, she probably doesn't mean this literally. Your room might be messy and chaotic, but your clothes aren't actually piled so high that they're flowing into the hallway. Your mom is being figurative — she's exaggerating. Now, if your clothes really were piled up so high that they were flowing into the hallway, your mom would say, "Your room is literally overflowing with clothes!"
Vocabulary lists containing literally
Ghost
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Kindred
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Booked
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I’m typing this as I’m quite literally bawling my eyes out in my dressing room & it hurts me so much to disappoint you all.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
If you go back to that point in 2010, the club was literally on the brink of bankruptcy.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
From there, he was quiet, invoking the Fifth Amendment in response to literally any question he faced.
From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2026
A famous study showed that individuals often fail in this allocation problem, literally leaving free money on the table.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
It literally could have been the end of the world, and it wasn’t.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
