word for word

American  

adverb

1. in exactly the same words; verbatim.

2. one word at a time, without regard for the sense of the whole.

   She translated the book word for word.

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word for word Idioms  

1. Exactly as written or spoken, as in That was the forecast, word for word. Chaucer used this idiom in the late 1300s.

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Other Word Forms

• word-for-word adjective

Etymology

Origin of word for word

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

Some reports included the entire Catholic ritual, word for word; “it is so strange that what ever I may do finds its way to the newspapers …,” Maggie mused.

From Literature

She told the High Court she knew "100%" that other stories had been obtained through hacking because they matched her voicemails "word for word".

From BBC

Is she reading from one of the justice center pamphlets, because I swear I think one of them says this word for word.

From Literature

That’s almost—word for word—what he said roughly 18 months ago.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is why I chose to read it out, word for word, to the chancellor – scrutinising their promises on your behalf.

From BBC