literal
8 synonyms and 4 antonyms for literal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Taking the words of something in their basic, ordinary sense, without metaphor or exaggeration.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Taking the words of something in their basic, ordinary sense, without metaphor or exaggeration.
“He took my remark about eating a horse in the literal sense.”
Opposites
2. adjective
Actually true, and not just a figure of speech.
“It was a literal race against time — the ferry left in nine minutes.”
How to use literal
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral and standard; the adverb "literally" as a pure intensifier is informal.
Etymology
From Latin littera, meaning "letter", via Late Latin litteralis "of letters" — that is, keeping to the letter of the text.
Full origin of literal →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between literal and figurative?
A literal statement means exactly what its words say. A figurative one uses those words to stand for something else, as in metaphor, simile or idiom. "She was drowning" is literal in a swimming pool and figurative in a pile of paperwork.
Why do people say "literally" when they don't mean it literally?
"Literally" has been used as a general intensifier for well over two centuries, in the same way as "absolutely" or "positively". Careful writers still avoid it where it contradicts the sentence, because the clash can be distracting or unintentionally comic.
Is literal the same as literary?
No. Literal means true to the exact wording. Literary means relating to literature or to a refined written style. The two are often confused because both come from the Latin word for "letter".