as in accurately
in a literal, true, or accurate way
She is not one for hyperbole—all of her warnings should be taken literally. The employees took the CEO's remarks literally and rightfully worried about the future health of the company.
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Recent Examples of literally
Things come to a head – quite literally − at the end of the episode when morning arrives and Alamo is found standing in a stable beside his horse.
—
Erin Jensen, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Part of that is because, with social media, there’s still a level of filter, figuratively and literally.
—Glamour, 18 May 2026
Around the world, literally, there are untold millions of fans who would call it a dream come true to have Messi playing in their city for their team.
—Greg Cote
may 18, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
But that small starting population went wild, both literally and figuratively.
—ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for literally
Erin Jensen, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Part of that is because, with social media, there’s still a level of filter, figuratively and literally.
—Glamour, 18 May 2026
Around the world, literally, there are untold millions of fans who would call it a dream come true to have Messi playing in their city for their team.
—Greg Cote
may 18, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
But that small starting population went wild, both literally and figuratively.
—ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for literally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literally
Adverb
-
By shining a high-intensity laser at a drone’s sensors, the system can temporarily confuse, blind, or permanently damage the equipment, preventing the drone from gathering intelligence or accurately tracking a ship.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
-
According to authorities, the students stayed calm while speaking with the 911 operator, accurately answering questions and relaying information because Fernandez-Delgado was too ill to communicate clearly.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Adverb
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Straus Family Creamery also said customers with questions can contact the company directly by email or phone during weekday business hours.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
Ocean Casino Resort stakes its claim directly on the Atlantic City Boardwalk with views of a ferris wheel and lighthouse as though to remind you of the city’s modest beachtown origins.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Video
Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
Cite this Entry
“Literally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literally. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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