figuratively

English

Etymology

figurative +‎ -ly

Adverb

figuratively (comparative more figuratively, superlative most figuratively)

1. (manner) In a figurative manner.
   • 1897 Easton's Bible Dictionary available on Wikisource

     Shepherd A word naturally of frequent occurence in Scripture. […] This word is used figuratively to represent the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to his people.

2. (speech act) Used to indicate that what follows is to be taken as a figure of speech, not literally.

Antonyms

• literally

Translations

in a figurative manner

Catalan: figurativament (ca) Chinese: Mandarin: 比喻地 (zh) (bǐyùde) Czech: obrazně (cs)

Dutch: figuurlijk (nl) French: figurément (fr) Romanian: (în mod) figurat (ro) Swedish: bildligt (sv)