figuratively
adverb
fig·u·ra·tive·ly
ˈfi-g(y)ə-rə-tiv-lē 
: in a figurative way: such as
a
: with a meaning that is metaphorical rather than literal
Speaking of panic, I recently ran into (figuratively, not literally) a friend who was ranting about giant "bees" digging holes in his lawn.—
Ron Kujawski
Ron KujawskiPoor small-town America. During the last gasps of this fevered election, pollsters, zealous campaign foot soldiers and reporters are kicking down its doors, figuratively speaking …—Doug Colligan
Doug Colligan
b
: in a way intended to represent the form or figure of something or someone having objective reality : in a way that is not purely abstract
Franz Kline, who had always painted figuratively, made his breakthrough in 1949 when he looked at one of his sketches in a Bell-Opticon magnifier, and saw the rough, thrusting horizontals and verticals that became the basis of his new abstract style.—Calvin Tomkins
Calvin TomkinsExamples of figuratively in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His brand of humor is designed to create a bond with his audience by telling stories about — and lampooning — the absurdities of everyday life, not by hitting them over the head, figuratively or literally.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
So, the ball, literally and figuratively, was given to Walker.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Literally and figuratively, Brathwaite has worn many hats in his sixty-six years.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
But nothing could have prepared viewers for the movie's ending, as an unfinished screenplay became the stuff of nightmares — literally and figuratively.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for figuratively
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George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
So, the ball, literally and figuratively, was given to Walker.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Literally and figuratively, Brathwaite has worn many hats in his sixty-six years.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
But nothing could have prepared viewers for the movie's ending, as an unfinished screenplay became the stuff of nightmares — literally and figuratively.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for figuratively
Cite this Entry
“Figuratively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figuratively. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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