figuratively

adverb

fig·​u·​ra·​tive·​ly ˈfi-g(y)ə-rə-tiv-lē 

: in a figurative way: such as

a

: with a meaning that is metaphorical rather than literal

Speaking of panic, I recently ran into (figuratively, not literally) a friend who was ranting about giant "bees" digging holes in his lawn.

—Ron Kujawski

Poor small-town America. During the last gasps of this fevered election, pollsters, zealous campaign foot soldiers and reporters are kicking down its doors, figuratively speaking …

—Doug Colligan

b

: in a way intended to represent the form or figure of something or someone having objective reality : in a way that is not purely abstract

Franz Kline, who had always painted figuratively, made his breakthrough in 1949 when he looked at one of his sketches in a Bell-Opticon magnifier, and saw the rough, thrusting horizontals and verticals that became the basis of his new abstract style.

—Calvin Tomkins

Examples of figuratively in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Everyone seems to be having a blast, and the filmmaker knows how to take both the ensemble he’s assembled and his congregation of Knives Out fans — call us Blanc-heads — to church, literally and figuratively. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2025

But then, during a rainstorm, Marie tries to — figuratively — rope Danny like a wild horse, resulting in a knock-down drag-out fight, and then putting him in the back of her car before speeding away. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025

For hosts, Fresca is a thoughtful, no-fuss gift that adds a little sparkle to the evening—literally and figuratively. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025

Canned cocktails are a mixed drinking experience — literally and figuratively. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above