ALL meanings of literally
lit·er·al·ly
L l - noun literally Since the early 19th century, literally has been widely used as an intensifier meaning “in effect, virtually,” a sense that contradicts the earlier meaning “actually, without exaggeration”: The senator was literally buried alive in the Iowa primaries. The parties were literally trading horses in an effort to reach a compromise. The use is often criticized; nevertheless, it appears in all but the most carefully edited writing. Although this use of literally irritates some, it probably neither distorts nor enhances the intended meaning of the sentences in which it occurs. The same might often be said of the use of literally in its earlier sense “actually”: The garrison was literally wiped out: no one survived. 1
- noun literally In a literal manner or sense; exactly. 1
- adverb literally in the literal or strict sense: She failed to grasp the metaphor and interpreted the poem literally. What does the word mean literally? 1
- adverb literally in a literal manner; word for word: to translate literally. 1
- adverb literally actually; without exaggeration or inaccuracy: The city was literally destroyed. 1
- adverb literally in effect; in substance; very nearly; virtually: I literally died when she walked out on stage in that costume. 1
- adverb literally word for word 1
- adverb literally in the true sense of a word 1
- adverb literally You can use literally to emphasize a statement. Some careful speakers of English think that this use is incorrect. 0
- adverb literally You use literally to emphasize that what you are saying is true, even though it seems exaggerated or surprising. 0
- adverb literally If a word or expression is translated literally, its most simple or basic meaning is translated. 0
- adverb literally in a literal manner 0
- adverb literally (intensifier) 0
- adverb literally in a literal manner or sense 0
- adverb literally word for word; not imaginatively, figuratively, or freely 0
- adverb literally actually; in fact [the house literally burned to the ground] 0
- adverb literally (speech act) word for word; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor. 0
- adverb literally (degree, proscribed) used non-literally as an intensifier for figurative statements: virtually (often considered incorrect; see usage notes). 0
- adverb literally (Colloquial) Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely. 0