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
Especially the part where you are told to hurry down a hallway that becomes increasingly more narrow, the walls quite literally closing in on you.
—
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 26 June 2025
The 13-episode first season (critics received 10 for review) opens with a bang — literally.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 June 2025
But with that brief wave of hope came new footage on Twitter every night of the NYPD acting like bad cops out of a Harvey Keitel flick: cops harassing peaceful crowds, cops kettling activists, cops literally driving a car into a crowd of protestors.
—Maris Kreizman, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
And months later Musk literally was given the symbolic keys to the White House.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for literally
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 26 June 2025
The 13-episode first season (critics received 10 for review) opens with a bang — literally.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 June 2025
But with that brief wave of hope came new footage on Twitter every night of the NYPD acting like bad cops out of a Harvey Keitel flick: cops harassing peaceful crowds, cops kettling activists, cops literally driving a car into a crowd of protestors.
—Maris Kreizman, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
And months later Musk literally was given the symbolic keys to the White House.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for literally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literally
Adverb
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That accurately sums up the plea deal. — Richard Vatz, Towson Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
4 July 2025
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Investors can price risk and returns more accurately, making capital markets much more efficient.—
Dave Birnbaum,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Adverb
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Despite the first season’s open ending—in which protagonist Seong Gi-hun is about to board a plane but instead turns around and looks directly at the camera—Hwang says that it wasn’t done with a second season in mind.—
Regina Kim,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 June 2025
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 9 Jul. 2025.
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