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

Speaking the customer’s language, literally and figuratively, increases loyalty and revenue. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

There was bloodshed on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse floors late Tuesday night, literally and figuratively, for a team that didn’t just lose the game. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025

Both were bespoke Zegna, and perhaps figuratively bespoke the upbeat refinement of jazz style, a sense of occasion now lost in celebrity dressing. —Julian Randall, Essence, 23 May 2025

However, the biggest unit that needs to tighten up — figuratively and literally — is the offensive line. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above