literally
/ˈlɪtəɹəli/
adverb/ˈlɪtəɹəli/
/ˈlɪ.ɾɚ.ə.li/
Meaning
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Meaning 1 · adverb
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.”
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Meaning 2 · adverb
(degree, contranym) Used non-literally as an intensifier for figurative statements: virtually, so to speak (often considered incorrect; see usage notes)
“He was so surprised, he literally jumped twenty feet in the air.”
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Meaning 3 · adverb
Used to intensify or dramatise non-figurative statements; tending towards a meaningless filler word in repeated use.
“I had no idea, so I was literally guessing.”
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Meaning 4 · adverb
Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely.
“You literally put it in the microwave for five minutes and it's done.”
How this word is used
- Everyday “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.”
- General “He was so surprised, he literally jumped twenty feet in the air.”
- General “I had no idea, so I was literally guessing.”
- General “You literally put it in the microwave for five minutes and it's done.”
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Antonyms
Origin
Origin information unavailable.