word for word
Americanadverb
-
in exactly the same words; verbatim.
-
one word at a time, without regard for the sense of the whole.
She translated the book word for word.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of word for word
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400
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.
New York copied this law almost word for word from Oregon, where our challenge is now before the Ninth U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
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 ● Jan. 26, 2026
Often, “Eddington” plays out so formally and predictably that it’s like watching someone write out the thing that’s making them anxious on paper, word for word.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2025
In the 15 years since, DeBlois has helmed its sequel, its three-quel and now this live-action version, which goes back to the beginning and repeats the same plot essentially word for word.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2025
Other times he would stop in the middle of a conversation and make me repeat everything said in the last few minutes, word for word.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
