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

As Fernando became a star, Alberto was by his side, literally and figuratively. —Seth Emerson, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026

The choice to include both in the frame contrasts these objects literally and figuratively, inviting comparison. —Christye Sisson, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026

Whatever the case may be, Cardi came out guns blazing — if not literally then figuratively. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026

But we've all been riveted by a much broader look at the Earth over the past week, literally and figuratively. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above