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

One of Oakland’s best underground bakeries – literally and figuratively – has quietly debuted a second location in San Ramon. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 27 July 2026

Coupled with the lingering problems from last year’s dry winter, some farmers say their livelihood in the fields is literally and figuratively drying up. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 23 July 2026

The agency also ensures that, even though Dunster bleeds plastic figuratively, her records may not bleed blood literally. — Kyle Devine, Longreads, 14 July 2026

Naturally, each woman brings her own baggage — both literally and figuratively — to the picturesque Massachusetts island. — Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above