lit·er·al·ly
- In a literal manner; word for word: translated the Greek passage literally.
- In a literal or strict sense: Don't take my remarks literally.
- Usage Problem
What does it mean to translate something literally?
To translate a passage literally. Literally is defined as something that is actually true, or exactly what you are saying word for word. An example of literally is when you say you actually received 100 letters in response to an article. (speech act) Word for word; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor.
What is an example of taking something literally?
Literally is defined as something that is actually true, or exactly what you are saying word for word. An example of literally is when you say you actually received 100 letters in response to an article. In a literal manner; word for word. Translated the Greek passage literally.
What is the use of literally as an intensifier?
Usage: The use of literally as an intensifier is common, esp in informal contexts. In some cases, it provides emphasis without adding to the meaning: the house was literally only five minutes walk away.
Is it bad to have a sense of literally?
If this sense of literally is bothersome, you needn’t use it. If you dislike hearing other people use it, you may continue to be upset.
What are the two meanings of literally?
We define literally in two senses: 1) in a literal sense or manner : actually. 2) in effect : virtually.
Where do we use literally?
You use literally to emphasize that what you are saying is true, even though it seems exaggerated or surprising. Putting on an opera is a tremendous enterprise involving literally hundreds of people. I literally crawled to the car.
What is literal meaning and example?
Literal language is used to mean exactly what is written. For example: “It was raining a lot, so I rode the bus.” In this example of literal language, the writer means to explain exactly what is written: that he or she chose to ride the bus because of the heavy rain.
What is opposite of literally?
figuratively/ literally Figuratively means metaphorically, and literally describes something that actually happened.
Why do we say literally?
"The word literal comes from the Latin word littera, which means letter, so when you literally go back to the origin of the word it means letter by letter, in its exact accurate sense, and literally means according to the letter of the language.
What does thinking literally mean?
Concrete thinking is reasoning that's based on what you can see, hear, feel, and experience in the here and now. It's sometimes called literal thinking, because it's reasoning that focuses on physical objects, immediate experiences, and exact interpretations.
What is an example sentence for literal?
1 : following the ordinary or usual meaning of the words I'm using the word in its literal, not figurative, sense. 2 : true to fact She gave a literal account of what she saw.
What is difference between literal meaning and real meaning?
Literal language uses words exactly according to their conventionally accepted meanings or denotation. Figurative (or non-literal) language uses words in a way that deviates from their conventionally accepted definitions in order to convey a more complicated meaning or heightened effect.
Is it correct to say literally?
0:156:50How (not) to Use LITERALLY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSome people say that the word literally. Only has one true definition and that is the word means inMoreSome people say that the word literally. Only has one true definition and that is the word means in the literal sense in a literal sense what I'm about to say is true word-for-word.
What can I say instead of literally?
synonyms for literallyactually.completely.directly.plainly.precisely.really.simply.truly.More items...
What is the difference between literally and literally?
0:050:55Figuratively vs. Literally | Ask Linda! | English Grammar - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou figuratively versus literally these two words are often confused. Let's break it down. The wordMoreYou figuratively versus literally these two words are often confused. Let's break it down. The word figuratively is used to describe something metaphorically.
Can 'literally' mean figuratively?
One of the definitions of literally that we provide is "in effect, virtually—used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description tha...
Is the extended use of 'literally' new?
The "in effect; virtually" meaning of literally is not a new sense. It has been in regular use since the 18th century and may be found in the writi...
Is the extended use of 'literally' slang?
Among the meanings of literally is one which many people find problematic: "in effect, virtually—used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statemen...
What does "to translate" mean?
2. in a literal manner; word for word: to translate literally.
What does "don't take my remarks literally" mean?
1. In a literal manner; word for word: translated the Greek passage literally. 2. In a literal or strict sense : Don't take my remarks literally. 3. Usage Problem. a. Really; actually: "There are people in the world who literally do not know how to boil water" (Craig Claiborne). b.
What does "intensifier" mean?
1. in a literal manner. 2. (intensifier): there were literally thousands of people. Usage: The use of literally as an intensifier is common, esp in informal contexts. In some cases, it provides emphasis without adding to the meaning: the house was literally only five minutes walk away.
What does "virtually" mean?
[Literally, like virtually, is widely used as an intensifier meaning “in effect, ” which contradicts the earlier meaning of “actually, without exaggeration.”.
What does "actually" mean in a sentence?
in a literal manner; word for word: literally translated; actually; without exaggeration or inaccuracy: The platoon was literally wiped out in the explosion. actually – an actual or existing fact; really; genuinely, without exaggeration: The deceased was actually frightened to death. virtually – for the most part; almost completely;
Is literally an intensifier?
Usage: The use of literallyas an intensifier is common, esp in informal contexts. In some cases, it provides emphasis without adding to the meaning: the house was literally only five minutes walk away. Often, however, its use results in absurdity: the news was literally an eye-opener to me. It is therefore best avoided in formal contexts
What does "literally" mean?
Literally is defined as something that is actually true, or exactly what you are saying word for word. An example of literally is when you say you actually received 100 letters in response to an article. adverb. 50.
What does "advertising" mean?
Advertisement. (colloquial) Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely. You literally put it in the microwave for five minutes and it's done. adverb. 3. 3. (degree, proscribed) Used non-literally as an intensifier for figurative statements: virtually (often considered incorrect; see usage notes) adverb. 2.
What does B2 mean in a sentence?
B2. using the real or original meaning of a word or phrase: They were responsible for literally millions of deaths. We live literally just round the corner from her. If you translate literally, you translate each word in a text separately, without looking at how the words are used together in a phrase or sentence:
Do the number of content elements have to occur literally?
The number of content elements are counted from here on; they do not have to occur literally . From the Cambridge English Corpus. It is very much in the nature of an epitaph, indeed almost literally so, as the first two lines of the poem make clear. From the Cambridge English Corpus.
When was the word "literally" used?
The use of literally in a fashion that is hyperbolic or metaphoric is not new—evidence of this use dates back to 1769. Its inclusion in a dictionary isn't new either; the entry for literally in our 1909 unabridged dictionary states that the word is “often used hyperbolically; as, he literally flew.” We (and all the other “craven dictionary editors”) have included this definition for a very simple reason: a lot of people use it this way, and our entries are based on evidence of use. Furthermore, the fact that so many people are writing angry letters serves as a sort of secondhand evidence, as they would hardly be complaining about this usage if it had not become common.
What does "literally" mean in Merriam-Webster?
Considering that Merriam-Webster has redefined “literally” to mean “figuratively,” I’m going with literally.
What does "in effect" mean?
1) in a literal sense or manner : actually. 2) in effect : virtually. Some of our readers are not happy about this. Here are a few of the comments left at this entry: Definition 2: the dictionary is literally wrong. This is literally the stupidest thing I've ever read. I literally can't even.
Who said "I literally blazed with wit"?
So did James Joyce (“Lily, the caretaker’s daughter, was literally run off her feet”), W. M. Thackeray (“I literally blazed with wit”), Charlotte Brontë (“she took me to herself, and proceeded literally to suffocate me with her unrestrained spirits”) and others of their ilk. "I literally blazed with wit.".
Can you use literal in letters?
If this sense of literally is bothersome, you needn’t use it. If you dislike hearing other people use it, you may continue to be upset. If you would like to broaden your complaint slightly, and insist that the original meaning of literal is the only proper one, go right ahead (although, before committing to this, you should be aware that this will restrict you to using literal when you mean “of, relating to, or expressed in letters”).
Is a living language ugly?
But a living language is a language that is always changing; this change may be lovely, and it may be ugly. As lexicographers we are in the business of defining language, rather than judging it.
Is "aaargh" literal or figurative?
Aaargh! That doesn’t seem very literal at all! The dark forces of "figurative -literalism" must have gotten to them, perhaps by blackmailing the editors. Let’s look at how some other current dictionaries define this word.
What does "really" mean?
Likewise, “really,” now commonly used to mean “to a great degree, ” once simply meant the same thing as “actually”.
How to decifer someone's meaning?
Often the only way to decifer someone's meaning is to pay attention to their written or spoken tone.
Can't take the Bible literally?
Sarcastic example: “You can't take the Bible literally.” Chances are the person saying this isn't separating the historical, factual parts of the Bible from the stories and metaphors, but is most likely mocking someone for perhaps overzealous belief s.
Can you use "literally" incorrectly?
Yes: Many people use “literally” incorrectly. They use it to add emphasis, when that isn’t the function of “literally.”
Is "literally" a hyperbole?
Now, the problem with the word literally is that it is used most often as hyperbole or in an exaggerative sense.