Close in meaning
Literally vs. Figuratively
Literally means in the exact, actual sense of the words: it really happened. Figuratively means in a symbolic or exaggerated sense, not to be taken word for word. If you literally jumped for joy, your feet left the ground.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| literally | adverb | in the actual, exact sense of the words, without exaggeration |
| adverb | in informal speech, used for emphasis to mean really or very nearly, even when the statement is not actually true | |
| figuratively | adverb | in a symbolic way, using words to create an image or comparison rather than state a fact |
Literally
adverb: in the actual, exact sense of the words, without exaggeration
- The bakery is literally next door, so we smell bread all morning.
- The word breakfast literally means breaking a fast.
adverb: in informal speech, used for emphasis to mean really or very nearly, even when the statement is not actually true
- We waited literally forever for the bus to come.
- The kitchen was literally a million degrees after we baked all day.
Figuratively
adverb: in a symbolic way, using words to create an image or comparison rather than state a fact
- When Ana said she was buried in homework, she meant it figuratively.
- Figuratively speaking, the new manager has a lot on her plate.
How to remember the difference
Literally sticks to the letter of the words (both come from the Latin for letter). Figuratively uses figures of speech, like metaphors.
Good to know
Literally as an intensifier (I literally ran a million errands) is old and appears in dictionaries, but many readers find it annoying or confusing, since it can flip the word's main meaning. In formal writing, use literally only when something is actually true.
Spot the mistake
After the marathon, my legs
literallyfiguratively turned to jelly.Correct: After the marathon, my legs figuratively turned to jelly.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. The pond froze so hard that you could walk across it.
Answer: literally. People really could walk on the ice, so the exact sense, literally, fits.
2. Maya is the heart of the team, keeping everyone going.
Answer: figuratively. Maya is not actually a heart; it is a comparison, so figuratively fits.