Literally
/ˈlɪtəɹəli/
Last Updated: January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Scrabble:12 ptsWWF:14 pts9 letters
Definition of Literally
adverb
- Word for word; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor
"When I saw on the news that there would be no school tomorrow because of the snowstorm, I literally jumped for joy, and hit my head on the ceiling fan."
- (degree, contranym) Used non-literally as an intensifier for figurative statements: virtually, so to speak (often considered incorrect; see usage notes)
"He was so surprised, he literally jumped twenty feet in the air."
- Used to intensify or dramatise non-figurative statements; tending towards a meaningless filler word in repeated use.
"I had no idea, so I was literally guessing."
- Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely.
"You literally put it in the microwave for five minutes and it's done."
Anagrams of Literally
Words You Can Make
50 words can be made from the letters in "literally":
Related Word Patterns
Synonyms & Antonyms
SYNONYMS
actuallyreallymerelyvirtually
ANTONYMS
figurativelymetaphoricallyvirtually