literally

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 Nigerian singer Ayra Starr’s latest song is literally about being hot. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2025 And this is literally a formula to worsen homelessness. Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 31 July 2025 This could be a graduation vibes (literally or metaphorically) or a moment that your worldview radically shifts. Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 July 2025 People are literally on their phones all the time, for one thing. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for literally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literally
Adverb
  • But accurately predicting tsunamis is challenging because of the many factors at play.
    Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 30 July 2025
  • The number of deaths was never accurately calculated, with estimates running from 1,000 to 6,000.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 30 July 2025
Adverb
  • My ultimate goal is to help people feel a sense of wellness, and these ingredients directly nourish that.
    Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 23 July 2025
  • This may be one of the last chances to buy the phone directly from Google, if that matters to you.
    Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Literally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literally. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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