word-for-word

1 of 2

adjective

ˈwərd-fər-ˈwərd 

: being in or following the exact words : verbatim

a word-for-word translation

word for word

2 of 2

adverb

: in the exact words : verbatim

Synonyms of word-for-word

Adverb

• directly
• accurately

Examples of word-for-word in a Sentence

Adverb

you don't have to record the professor's comments word for word in your notes

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Bernard, the quiet seventh-round pick from Nigeria, started singing word-for-word. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 24 June 2026

Doctors don’t treat patients by following FDA labels word-for-word and stopping there. — Payton Herres, STAT, 19 May 2026

Adverb

The statement wouldn’t be so condescendingly winking if the theorist’s contributions to their field weren’t drawn, word for word, from the academic work of the late Lauren Berlant, the first person thanked in the book’s acknowledgments. — Maya Binyam, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026

Planck himself sat in the audience, wearing his chauffeur’s hat, as his driver delivered the familiar speech word for word. — Ryan Hawk, Fortune, 20 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for word-for-word

• amateur
• connoisseur
• kieselguhr
• monseigneur
• procureur
• retransfer
• saboteur
• silencer
• voyageur
• birr
• blur
• bur

Kids Definition

word-for-word

1 of 2 adjective

: being in or following the exact words : verbatim

a word-for-word translation

word for word

2 of 2 adverb

: in the exact words : verbatim

repeated the message word for word