metaphorically

adverb

met·​a·​phor·​i·​cal·​ly ˌme-tə-ˈfȯr-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈfär-

: in a metaphorical or figurative sense rather than a literal sense : by using a metaphor

At the center of every encryption system is a secret number or mathematical operation, metaphorically referred to as a key.

—Peter Wayner

At a typical event, he comes crashing onstage, delivers a macho statement of intent, metaphorically flexes his muscles, then roars away.

—Terry McCarthy

They settled in Somerville, Mass., next door to Cambridge but metaphorically across the tracks.

—Laura Shapiro

Examples of metaphorically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That view began to rupture as the first shots of the Revolutionary War rang out in Lexington and Concord in 1775, and a year later Americans resolved to topple the king – metaphorically and literally. —Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026

This time, people are throwing Molotov cocktails — literally and metaphorically. —Larz May, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026

The back-and-forth discussion spanned a dozen minutes before 11 of 13 city council members metaphorically raised their hands, pledging up to $600 million to the Kansas City Royals for a downtown baseball stadium. —Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2026

Most notably, the print-shop scene in which Fergus teaches Germain and Henri-Christian how to use the printing press, both literally and metaphorically. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for metaphorically

• allegorically
• rhetorically