literally

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Adverb 1.2.1 Quotations 1.2.2 Usage notes 1.2.3 Synonyms 1.2.4 Antonyms 1.2.5 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

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

[edit] Adverb

literally (not comparable)

1. In a literal sense, word for word; not as an idiom or metaphor.

   Schadenfreude literally means "shameful joy".

   When my sewing kit fell off the barn loft, I literally had to look for a needle in a haystack.

2. (proscribed) just, simply
   1. (as an intensifier used with idioms and metaphors; the opposite of the preceding sense) really
      • 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...

      • 1993: Wayne W. Dyer, Real Magic, p.193

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

   2. (British)(colloquial) (As a generic intensifier)
      • I was literally exhausted.
   3. (British)(colloquial) (As a generic downtoner)
      • You literally put in the microwave for five minutes and it's done.

[edit] Quotations

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

[edit] Usage notes

Literally is typically used as an intensifier in one of two ways -- to intensify phrases that are actually meant to be taken literally (e.g. "I had literally no duties or responsibilities") or phrases that cannot be taken literally in the context (e.g. "He was literally blown away by the news"). The second usage is proscribed, for instance by Wynford Hicks (2004, "Quite Literally: Problem words and how to use them", page 131), who writes "Don't use it when you don't mean it, they say. 'He literally exploded with anger' is absurd."

[edit] Synonyms

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

[edit] Antonyms

• (not metaphorically): metaphorically, figuratively, virtually

[edit] Translations