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

Massachusetts and Idaho are about 2,000 miles apart -- literally and figuratively -- in America's gun debate. — Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

The environment of wartime New York rings out silently but urgently from Nighthawks; as a temple of fluorescent light persisting through the infernal darkness, Hopper’s diner figuratively and symbolically resists the blackouts imposed upon the city. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Massachusetts and Idaho are about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) apart — literally and figuratively — in America's gun debate. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Anudike-Uzomah, a 2023 first-round pick from Lee’s Summit High School, figuratively down the street from Arrowhead Stadium, has started all five games this season because he’s deserved to start five games this season. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above