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
Is Rue literally getting lassoed right now?
—
Emma Specter, Vogue, 1 June 2026
Grew up literally from the beginning all the way to the end.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 June 2026
That literally was the intention.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 1 June 2026
Things took a turn for the worse, literally, in the 72nd minute for Portoviejo.
—Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for literally
Emma Specter, Vogue, 1 June 2026
Grew up literally from the beginning all the way to the end.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 June 2026
That literally was the intention.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 1 June 2026
Things took a turn for the worse, literally, in the 72nd minute for Portoviejo.
—Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for literally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literally
Adverb
-
Here's what to know about the real-life case and how accurately the film depicts it.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
One of the biggest challenges fashion brands face today is unreliable supply chains and inventory management to accurately meet customer demand and expectations.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Adverb
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In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the agency had $500 million for forest management and fire prevention that was not directly tied to cap-and-invest or the bond — up from about $65 million two decades prior.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Beijing’s support does not appear to have extended to directly arming the Naxals, however.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 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 2 Jun. 2026.
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