- pronunciation:
- lI
t
r
li
- features:
- Language Note
| part of speech: |
adverb |
| definition 1: |
word for word.
She translated the poem from Japanese to English literally. |
| definition 2: |
in fact; really.
The farmer literally worked from morning until night. |
| related words: |
actually |
Literally means "in fact, exactly, or really."
Figuratively means the opposite. When you speak figuratively, you equate a real situation with something that is not real but conveys the meaning or feeling that you want to express. If you say "It was so hot, I was melting from the heat," you are speaking figuratively. At least it would be extraordinarily terrible if you were speaking literally!