Definitions for literally
ˈlɪt ər ə lilit·er·al·ly

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. literallyadverb

   in a literal sense

   "literally translated"; "he said so literally"

2. literallyadverb

   (intensifier before a figurative expression) without exaggeration

   "our eyes were literally pinned to TV during the Gulf War"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. literallyadverb

   word for word; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor

   When I saw on the news that there would be no school tomorrow because of the snowstorm, I literally jumped for joy, and hit my head on the ceiling fan.

2. literallyadverb

   used non-literally as an intensifier for figurative statements: virtually (often considered incorrect; see usage notes)

3. literallyadverb

   Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely.

   You literally put it in the microwave for five minutes and it's done.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Literallyadverb

   Etymology: from literal.

   1. According to the primitive import of words; not figuratively.

   That a man and his wife are one flesh, I can comprehend the meaning of; yet literally taken, it is a thing impossible. Jonathan Swift.

   2. With close adherence to words.

   Endeavouring to turn his Nisus and Euryalus as close as I was able, I have performed that episode too literally; that giving more scope to Mezentius and Lausus, that version, which has more of the majesty of Virgil , has less of his conciseness. Dryden.

   So wild and ungovernable a poet cannot be translated literally; his genius is too strong to bear a chain. Dryden.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Literally

   Literally is an English adverb. It has been controversially used as an intensifier for figurative statements.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. literally

   Literally is an adverb which means in a literal manner or sense; exactly. It is used to emphasize the truth and accuracy of a statement or description, often to express surprise or to emphasize something that is really true and not metaphorical or hyperbolic.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Literallyadverb

   according to the primary and natural import of words; not figuratively; as, a man and his wife can not be literally one flesh

2. Literallyadverb

   with close adherence to words; word by word

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Literally

   Literally vs. Figuratively -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Literally and Figuratively.

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'literally' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2440

2. Adverbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'literally' in Adverbs Frequency: #291

How to pronounce literally?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say literally in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of literally in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of literally in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of literally in a Sentence

1. Rudy Fuehrer:

   He crouched down and literally disappeared into the hole with a lead that had a choker on it, he was able somehow to manipulate his arms and get the choker around the dog’s head.

2. Karen Bass:

   You see the man being compliant, you see the police officer -- acting with complete impunity -- looking at the camera while he is literally murdering this man. The symbolism of that was he was so arrogant about what he was doing. He thought,' It's just a black man, nobody is going to do anything to me.'.

3. Donald Trump:

   Wait till you see the plans we have coming out literally over the next four weeks, we have great health care plans coming out.

4. Jeff Landry:

   I was thinking, ‘Wow, this is a guy who just got off the podium yesterday at the White House, reminding everybody to be boosted, so that they can be vaccinated, so that they can avoid COVID,’ it was remarkable to see, you know, having the young lady sit next to him for… hours, and she literally sneezed and like, he almost came out of his chair.

5. Peter Navarro:

   This is a big deal, this medicine can literally save tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of American lives and maybe millions of people worldwide.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=literally
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Literally
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=literally
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literally
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally