: in a figurative way : with a meaning that is different from the basic or literal meaning and that expresses an idea by using language that usually describes something else
He's a sailor who knows his ropes, literally and figuratively.
In the phrase "know your ropes," the word "ropes" is being used figuratively.
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“Figuratively.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/figuratively. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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