literally

adverb

Without overstatement or understatement, or false or misleading words.

With phrasings that might normally be used or understood as figurative: truly; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor.

Word for word, exactly as stated.

As an intensifier.

(colloquial) Used as a general intensifier or dramatiser, sometimes tending towards a meaningless filler.

Draws attention to a pun or other wordplay involving an idiom.

(colloquial) Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely.

(sometimes proscribed) Used as an intensifier with statements or terms that are in fact meant figuratively and not word for word as stated: virtually, so to speak.

Roots

litteraliter- · Latin · letter

Synonyms for literally

verbatimadv absolutelyadv actuallyadv justadv exactlyadv trulyadv literatimadv

Synonyms & related words for literally

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of literally — including verbatim, absolutely, actually, just, exactly, truly. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to literally

Explore words related to literally — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include figuratively, practically, literal, metaphorically, literality, virtually, basically, essentially. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for literally

Common synonyms for literally include verbatim, absolutely, actually, just, exactly, truly, literatim — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does literally come from?

The word literally breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root liter-, from Latin littera (“letter”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.