lit·er·al
ˈli-t(ə-)rəl 
1
a
: according with the letter of the scriptures
adheres to a literal reading of the passage
b
: adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of a term or expression : actual
liberty in the literal sense is impossible—
B. N. Cardozo
B. N. Cardozo
c
: free from exaggeration or embellishment
the literal truth
d
: characterized by a concern mainly with facts
a very literal man
2
: of, relating to, or expressed in letters
The distress signal SOS has no literal meaning.
: a small error usually of a single letter (as in writing)
Synonyms
Examples of literal in a Sentence
Adjective
I was using the word in its literal sense.
The literal meaning of “know your ropes” is “to know a lot about ropes,” while figuratively it means “to know a lot about how to do something.”
a literal translation of a book
The story he told was basically true, even if it wasn't the literal truth.
Recent Examples on the WebKevin Nguyen, The Verge, 20 Apr. 2024
As a result, the task of visually portraying the trial largely rests in the hands of the three veteran sketch artists -- deadline artists in the most literal sense of the term -- whose pastels and inks will depict an unprecedented moment in American history.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for literal 
Adjective
As the guests’ paranormal features escalate, so do the demons — personal and literal — until reaching an inevitable, violent end.
—Kevin Nguyen, The Verge, 20 Apr. 2024
As a result, the task of visually portraying the trial largely rests in the hands of the three veteran sketch artists -- deadline artists in the most literal sense of the term -- whose pastels and inks will depict an unprecedented moment in American history.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for literal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'literal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
Dictionary Entries Near literal
Cite this Entry
“Literal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literal. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
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