literally

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adverb 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Quotations 1.3.3 Synonyms 1.3.4 Antonyms 1.3.5 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

literal +‎ -ly

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈlɪtəɹəli/, SAMPA: /"lIt@r@li/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Adverb

literally (not comparable)

1. (speech act) Word for word; not as an idiom or metaphor.

   When he said Houston weather is warm and you never need a long sleeve shirt, I literally threw all my long sleeve shirts away!

2. Simply; with reference to the first meaning of a word.

   Ants got into my computer and literally scrambled my data: Bugs were in my hardware.

3. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) (modal) Without hyperbole or slang.
4. (degree) Used as an intensifier; really, very
   • 1827: Sir Walter Scott, Chronicles of the Canongate

     The house was literally electrified; and it was only from witnessing the effects of her genius that he could guess to what a pitch theatrical excellence could be carried.

   • 1894: Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

     ...at a time when Europe was ringing with his name and when his room was literally ankle-deep with congratulatory telegrams...

5. Figuratively.
   • 1993, Wayne W. Dyer, Real Magic, page 193:

     You literally become the ball in a tennis match, you become the report that you are working on […]

6. (British, colloquial) Used as a generic downtoner.
   • You literally put it in the microwave for five minutes and it's done.

[edit] Usage notes

Because of its varying meanings, literally can cause confusion. For example "you literally become the ball" could mean transforming into a spherical object, while the most common sense interpretation would be that literally is an intensifier in this usage.

[edit] Quotations

• For examples of the usage of this term see the citations page.

[edit] Synonyms

• (not metaphorically): actually, exactly, precisely
• (as an intensifier): actually, totally, really

[edit] Antonyms

• (not metaphorically): metaphorically, figuratively, virtually

[edit] Translations