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
Americans throw away millions of dollars in coins every year, literally treating them like trash.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
The Zestt Dreamsoft Travel Scarf is the perfect thing to make sure you’re always covered (literally).
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
Because literally everything about wine can seem complicated, deciding which type of fridge to buy can feel fraught.
—Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
The 10 and the 110 are literally the crossroads of the city, so it’s really poised to be a special building.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literally
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
The Zestt Dreamsoft Travel Scarf is the perfect thing to make sure you’re always covered (literally).
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
Because literally everything about wine can seem complicated, deciding which type of fridge to buy can feel fraught.
—Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
The 10 and the 110 are literally the crossroads of the city, so it’s really poised to be a special building.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literally
Adverb
-
The metric excludes pricing and foreign exchange fluctuations to reflect demand more accurately.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The bottom line is the report determined there's no real way for the city, which faces huge budget deficits every year, to accurately count how much debt is owed, or to sufficiently collect that debt.—
Dorothy Tucker,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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City officials have not directly addressed the governor's claims but issued a statement saying Dallas remains committed to following the law.—
Robbie Owens,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
What to do nearby For a little adventure off-site, guests can book a variety of activities directly through the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 2026.
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