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

Wealthy people tend to have more space, literally and figuratively. —Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 15 June 2025

Also now running the show, literally and figuratively over at America250, is Trump friendly logistics firmEvent Strategies Inc., who were a part of the infamous January 6 event five years ago. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 June 2025

This partnership with Paula’s Choice is proof that the investment in women’s sports is paying off, both literally and figuratively. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 11 June 2025

The 6-foot-2 Weinstein, once a towering persona literally and figuratively in Hollywood, sat in a wheelchair throughout the trial. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 11 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above