literally
Americanadverb
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in the literal or strict sense.
She failed to grasp the metaphor and interpreted the poem literally.
What does the word mean literally?
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in a literal manner; word for word.
to translate literally.
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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
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.
"Just signing up to the register, you can literally save a life. I feel really emotional because that's as powerful as it is," she added.
From BBC
After going from a size 18 to a size 12, she says her old clothes were "literally falling off".
From BBC
"I literally look like a children's TV presenter."
From BBC
“I’m literally right down the middle,” said Sherwin, an appointed police chief who isn’t registered to vote with a party.
"We had to wait in line for bread, milk, water, some basic things in life. That probably has been my foundation, the fact I came from literally nothing."
From BBC
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.
