literary
adjective
lit·er·ary
ˈli-tə-ˌrer-ē 
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of humane learning or literature
a literary education
a literary institution
b
: bookish sense 2
an essay written in a very literary style
c
: of or relating to books
a literary agent
a literary manuscript
2
a
: well-read
he is literary, given to quoting to himself rather long stretches of remembered lines—
F. J. Hoffman
F. J. Hoffman
b
: of or relating to authors or scholars or to their professions
her literary biographies
Examples of literary in a Sentence
Do his books have any literary merit?
Mystery fiction is only one of many literary forms.
an essay written in a very literary style
The author uses many literary devices in his work.
He entered the literary world right out of college.
She hired a literary agent.
Recent Examples on the Web
Yeang helps out the mathematically illiterate by offering a literary frame for noise’s semantic shift.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
In Henry's first foray into the literary world, Natalie Cleary is on the cusp of the rest of her life.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world.
—Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
By the time Taylor-Johnson came aboard with her husband in the lead role, Frey had long since apologized and the literary furor had died down, but so had most of the interest in the film, which received a modest independent release and middling reviews.
—Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
The South Korean filmmaker behind international hits including Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Decision to Leave has spent decades making movies that commingle beauty and ugliness, genre tropes and literary layers, grindhouse depravity and arthouse imagination to profound effect.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Poet and playwright Patricia Spears Jones will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in May from the Porter Fund, an organization supporting the literary arts in Arkansas.
—Sean Clancy, arkansasonline.com, 10 Apr. 2024
Two major annual literary events will bring top writers to Milwaukee for April events:
Novelist Ayana Mathis will speak at the Delta Memorial Endowment Fund Inc. 46th Annual Literary Luncheon on April 20.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2024
The Carol Shields Prize is a newcomer in the world of literary awards.
—Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
In Henry's first foray into the literary world, Natalie Cleary is on the cusp of the rest of her life.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world.
—Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
By the time Taylor-Johnson came aboard with her husband in the lead role, Frey had long since apologized and the literary furor had died down, but so had most of the interest in the film, which received a modest independent release and middling reviews.
—Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
The South Korean filmmaker behind international hits including Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Decision to Leave has spent decades making movies that commingle beauty and ugliness, genre tropes and literary layers, grindhouse depravity and arthouse imagination to profound effect.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Poet and playwright Patricia Spears Jones will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in May from the Porter Fund, an organization supporting the literary arts in Arkansas.
—Sean Clancy, arkansasonline.com, 10 Apr. 2024
Two major annual literary events will bring top writers to Milwaukee for April events:
Novelist Ayana Mathis will speak at the Delta Memorial Endowment Fund Inc. 46th Annual Literary Luncheon on April 20.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2024
The Carol Shields Prize is a newcomer in the world of literary awards.
—Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'literary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near literary
Cite this Entry
“Literary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literary. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
literary
adjective
lit·er·ary
ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē
1
a
: of or relating to literature
b
2
: of or relating to writers or writing as a profession
literarily
adverb
ˌlit-ə-ˈrer-ə-lē
literariness
noun
ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē-nəs
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