Another Word For Literally

Meaning

The word "literally" is used to indicate that something is true in a strict or exact sense, without exaggeration or metaphor. For example, if you say, "I literally ran a mile," it means you actually ran a whole mile, not just a phrase used for emphasis.

Synonyms

• Exactly
• Truly
• Actually
• Really
• Without exaggeration

Antonyms

• Figuratively
• Metaphorically
• Imaginatively
• Symbolically

Etymology

The word "literally" comes from the Latin word "litera," meaning "letter." It entered the English language in the late 14th century, originally meaning "in accordance with the letter of the law" or "word for word."

Examples

1. "He was so tired, he literally could not keep his eyes open."
2. "The project was so complicated that we literally spent months working on it."
3. "She was literally jumping for joy after passing her exam."
4. "When he said he was freezing, he meant he was literally shivering in the cold."