literally

adverb

Definition of literallynext
as in accurately
in a literal, true, or accurate way She is not one for hyperbole—all of her warnings should be taken literally. The employees took the CEO's remarks literally and rightfully worried about the future health of the company.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of literally That is literally what you’re hired for, and yet, still, people try to avoid it. — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 He was filled with ambition to see more of the country, write a spy thriller and literally climb more hills. — Andrea Javor, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Poor Jennifer Connelly is once again trapped in supportive wife mode, despite Daniela getting an arc that literally separates her from her family in order to work on her own issues. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026 Why would literally anyone use these messed up AI photos to advertise their restaurant? — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for literally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literally
  1. accurately
  2. directly
Adverb
  • Due to a lack of reliable data and the regime’s complete control of the media, accurately assessing what is happening on the ground in North Korea is notoriously difficult, said WioNews.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In a test call, the bot accurately generated action items and gauged the sentiment as neutral (and not requiring immediate action).
    — John Brandon, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of accurately
Adverb
  • The gracious master of ceremonies gave me the place of honor in the line-up, directly behind him, with Reiffer and the two shikaris bringing up the rear.
    — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Fuel for a compact subcritical reactor The fuel development project is directly connected to AMPERA’s plans for a subcritical micronuclear reactor platform.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of directly

Browse Nearby Words

literality
literally
literalness
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Cite this Entry

“Literally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literally. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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