literally

[US]/ˈlɪtərəli/
[UK]/ˈlɪtərəli/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

adv. word for word; in the most exact sense; without exaggeration or metaphor; truly and accurately.

Phrases & Collocations

literally impossible

literally speaking

literally translated

Example Sentences

The children were literally starving.

She was literally blue with cold.

The sentence cannot be literally rendered.

I have received literally thousands of letters.

literally an undutiful herb) a variety of cotton rose.

It is context and convention that determine whether a term will be interpreted literally or metaphorically.

Tiramisu, literally translated ‘pull-me-up’.

these two chemicals, when mixed together , literally explode.

statements which, although literally true, are nevertheless misleading.

men will literally choose death over ratting out another prisoner.

shiatsu literally translates as ‘finger pressure’.

the driver took it literally when asked to go straight over the roundabout.

There’s no way we can even think about going on holiday this year, as we are literally living from hand to mouth.

The signing in Moscow's Kremlin on the night of August 23-24 of the Nazi-Communist "NonAggression" Pact was a diplomatic demarche literally world-shattering.

With so many risks, it is no surprise that many people find geophagy ─ literally the eating of earth or soil ─ unappetizing.

LORI WALLACH: Basically, NAFTA on steroids with six more countries. That model has a core of rules that literally promote, incentivize shipping jobs away.

31:17 sometimes are used to prove that God literally created the entire universe in six days and that, scripturally-speaking, a pre-Adamite creation is impossible.

Epigenome literally means "above the genome." It is a molecular marking system that controls gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.In a sense, the epigenome is the genome's boss.

Real-world Examples

We literally have so much in common.

Source: Listening Digest

It's literally impossible to host the Oscars.

Source: Focus on the Oscars

I mean, wood literally grows on trees.

Source: Scishow Selected Series

The word " placenta" literally means " flat cake."

Source: Osmosis - Reproduction

But again, he took the words literally.

Source: Tips for IELTS Speaking.

Huh. Yeah, I always took it literally.

Source: The Big Bang Theory Season 7

The figure should not be taken too literally.

Source: The Economist - International

In other words, flesh literally turning to bone.

Source: Osmosis - Urinary

And with this guy, I mean that literally.

Source: Modern Family - Season 02

I am wishing you quite literally the best.

Source: Modern Family - Season 08

Popular Words

Explore frequently searched vocabulary

Download App to Unlock Full Content

Want to learn vocabulary more efficiently? Download the DictoGo app and enjoy more vocabulary memorization and review features!

Download DictoGo Now