literal
LIT-uh-rul
Literal (adjective) means taking the words of something in their basic, ordinary sense, without metaphor or exaggeration. Example: “He took my remark about eating a horse in the literal sense.”
adjective
1
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."
"The literal meaning of "break the ice" has nothing to do with conversation."
"When she said she was dying of thirst, he gave a literal answer and offered water."
2
Actually true, and not just a figure of speech.
"It was a literal race against time — the ferry left in nine minutes."
"The pitch was a literal sea of mud after three days of rain."
"He was a literal giant, standing well over two metres tall."
3
Of a translation: following the wording of the original closely rather than conveying its overall sense.
"A literal translation of the proverb makes no sense in English."
"The literal version of the poem sounded clumsy, so she reworked it in smoother English."
"If you give a literal rendering of the joke, nobody will laugh."
How to use literal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMeaning exactly what the words say, with nothing made up or exaggerated.
When to use it
Neutral and standard; the adverb "literally" as a pure intensifier is informal.
Memory tip
"Littoral" (with two t's) means relating to the shore — a completely different word.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
literal meaning
literal translation
literal sense
literal interpretation
in the literal sense
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He took my remark about eating a horse in the _____ sense.
Etymology
From Latin littera, meaning "letter", via Late Latin litteralis "of letters" — that is, keeping to the letter of the text.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for literal
feral
general
liberal
funeral
lateral
mineral
federal
several
visceral
ephemeral
bilateral
collateral
See all rhymes for 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".
What is the meaning of literal?
"literal" (adjective) means taking the words of something in their basic, ordinary sense, without metaphor or exaggeration.
