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

The addition of Williams at tackle is massive for the 49ers, both literally and figuratively. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 19 Jan. 2026

Darby Allin’s rise through the ranks of professional wrestling has included more than its share of falls, literally and figuratively — some of them right here in Orlando. —Jay Reddick, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026

No players feel that pressure quite like the quarterback, who holds the team’s success literally and figuratively in the palm of his hand. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Jan. 2026

Even in his absence, Smear’s presence was felt both figuratively and literally, as his face was the image on drummer Ilan Rubin’s drum kit. —Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above