literally

/ˈlɪtərəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪtərəli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈli-tə-rə-lē ˈli-trə-lē, ˈli-tər-lē/ (ame, mw)

literally — adverb

1. According to the exact, non-metaphorical meaning of an expression, without any e

1.副詞B2
釋義

According to the exact, non-metaphorical meaning of an expression, without any exaggeration or figurative language.

例句

Daichi took the teacher's warning literally and arrived thirty minutes early.

collocation: take [sth] literally

The word 'butterfly' literally means a fly whose wings look like butter in some languages.

literally means for core definition

同義詞
  • exactly

    more general; 'exactly' can match details without opposing metaphor

  • precisely

    more formal and stricter than 'literally'; focuses on accuracy rather than word-meaning

  • strictly

    emphasises following rules or definitions without flexibility

反義詞
  • figuratively

    the direct opposite — used for metaphors and symbolic expressions

  • metaphorically

    used when words stand for something else

文法句型

literally + [verb]

[verb] + literally

take + [noun] + literally

用法筆記

This is the original and traditional meaning. When you want readers to know you are not exaggerating or using metaphor, use this sense.

常見錯誤

❌I was literally starving to death' (when you are merely hungry).
✅I was literally starving
💡I had not eaten in two days.' — 'literally' in sense 1 should only be used for things that are factually true.

2. Translating each word on its own, without considering how the words work togethe

2.副詞B1
釋義

Translating each word on its own, without considering how the words work together to create meaning in the target language.

例句

Mert translated the phrase 'break a leg' literally, so his audience had no idea it meant 'good luck.'

collocation: translate [phrase] literally

If you translate 'it is raining cats and dogs' literally, you will confuse any English learner.

同義詞
  • word for word

    a more common and natural phrase for this concept

  • verbatim

    very formal; usually refers to exact copying of speech or writing

反義詞
  • freely

    conveying meaning rather than exact words

  • idiomatically

    using natural expressions of the target language

文法句型

translate + literally

literal + translation

用法筆記

Frequently used with verbs of translation (translate, render, interpret). The adjective form 'literal' is more common in this sense than the adverb.

常見錯誤

❌I translated it literally and it sounded perfect.' (when the translation was actually free/idiomatic).
✅I translated the idiom literally, and it made no sense in English.
💡'literally' means word-for-word, not 'in a literal way that is correct.'

3. Used to add force to a statement, especially with words that describe strong fee

3.副詞B2
釋義

Used to add force to a statement, especially with words that describe strong feelings or surprising facts, without requiring the statement to be exactly true.

例句

Vinícius was literally the last person to leave the party — even the host had gone to bed.

literally + superlative for emphasis

After climbing the mountain, Sofie said her legs were literally made of rubber.

同義詞
  • truly

    less dramatic; a safer alternative in formal writing

  • absolutely

    stronger and unambiguously an intensifier

  • really

    the most common and neutral intensifier

文法句型

literally + [adjective]

literally + [action verb]

literally [comparative/superlative]

用法筆記

Extremely common in everyday speech and informal writing. Some traditionalists consider it incorrect to use 'literally' for emphasis with figurative expressions, but this usage is now standard in spoken English. Distinguish from sense 1 (REAL MEANING) where the statement must be factually true.

常見錯誤

❌I literally died of embarrassment' (you did not actually die).
✅I was literally too embarrassed to say a single word.
💡Using 'literally' with impossible events confuses readers who expect sense 1. Use sense 3 only with statements that are almost believable.

4. Used in everyday speech to mean 'almost' or 'virtually,' suggesting that the sit

4.副詞C1
釋義

Used in everyday speech to mean 'almost' or 'virtually,' suggesting that the situation is very close to being described that way, even if not exactly true.

例句

Reema was so busy with exams that she literally had no time to eat lunch all week.

collocation: literally no [noun]

The queue for the new restaurant was so long that Jude literally waited three hours just to get a table.

同義詞
  • simply

    the most natural neutral substitute

  • just

    very common in informal English

  • virtually

    slightly more formal, emphasises near-completeness

文法句型

literally + no + [noun]

literally + [adjective]

用法筆記

Sometimes considered substandard by style guides. The meaning is close to 'virtually' or 'practically.' Distinguish from sense 3 (STRONG EMPHASIS) — sense 4 can usually be replaced by 'simply' or 'just' without changing the sentence feel, whereas sense 3 adds dramatic force.