adv B2 Upper-Intermediate Very common

literally

LIH-tuh-ruh-lee

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Literally (adv) means In a literal, exact sense; word for word, without exaggeration. Example: “When I said the room was empty, I meant it literally; there was nothing in it.”

adv

In a literal, exact sense; word for word, without exaggeration.

"When I said the room was empty, I meant it literally; there was nothing in it."

"The translator rendered the poem literally, word for word."

"He literally ran five miles this morning — no exaggeration."

(informal) Used to add emphasis to a statement, even when it isn't meant word for word.

"It was literally the best pizza I have ever tasted."

"We waited literally forever for the bus to arrive."

"I was literally dying of laughter during that scene."

How to use literally

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishExactly as stated — though in casual speech it's often used just to add emphasis, even to statements that clearly aren't literal.

Common mistake

Using "literally" for statements that are obviously exaggerated ("I literally died") is extremely common in speech but frowned on in formal writing, since it undercuts the word's original precise meaning.

When to use it

The emphatic, non-literal use of "literally" is informal; avoid it in careful writing.

Easily confused with

figuratively →

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Comparative: more literally
Superlative: most literally

Test yourself on “literally” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

When I said the room was empty, I meant it _____; there was nothing in it.

Synonyms

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actually really truly exactly verbatim word for word precisely

Antonyms

figuratively

Related words

so just most even very right really real

Rhymes for literally

ally bally sally Wally dally rally tally pally really locally usually equally

See all rhymes for literally →

Frequently asked questions

What does “literally” mean?

The word “literally” means in a literal, exact sense; word for word, without exaggeration. In plain terms, exactly as stated — though in casual speech it's often used just to add emphasis, even to statements that clearly aren't literal.

How do you pronounce “literally”?

“Literally” is pronounced LIH-tuh-ruh-lee (/ˈlɪ.tə.ɹə.li/ in IPA).

How do you use “literally” in a sentence?

Here is “literally” used in a sentence: “The translator rendered the poem literally, word for word.”

What part of speech is “literally”?

“Literally” is an adverb.

Is “literally” a common word?

“Literally” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “literally” have?

“Literally” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a literal, exact sense; word for word, without exaggeration.

What is the difference between literally and figuratively?

Literally means something is exactly true, word for word, with no exaggeration — 'the pool is literally freezing' should mean the water is at freezing point. Figuratively means the words are a metaphor, not the plain truth — 'I'm figuratively dying of boredom'. In short, literally is real; figuratively is a figure of speech.

Is it correct to use 'literally' for emphasis?

In careful writing, no — saying you 'literally exploded with laughter' when you did not is seen as loose usage. In casual speech, this intensifying use is extremely common and widely understood to mean 'really' or 'absolutely'. It is best kept out of formal contexts, where 'literally' should mean strictly true.

What is an example of 'literally' used correctly?

'The word quarantine literally means a period of forty days' uses it well, because that is its exact origin. Likewise, 'he literally ran ten miles' is correct if he truly did. The test is simple: if the statement is precisely, factually true, 'literally' belongs; if it is exaggeration, it does not.

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