literally

== English == === Alternative forms === litterally (obsolete) === Etymology === From Middle English litteraly. See literal and letter. By surface analysis, literal +‎ -ly. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈlɪ.tə.ɹə.li/, /ˈlɪ.tɹə.li/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈlɪ.tə.ɹə.li/, /ˈlɪ.tɹə.li/, /ˈlɪ.təɹ.li/ Rhymes: -ɪtəɹəli, -ɪtɹəli Hyphenation: lit‧er‧al‧ly === Adverb === literally (comparative more literally, superlative most literally, abbreviation lit.) In a literal manner; exactly as stated, word for word. Without overstatement or understatement, or false or misleading words. With phrasings that might normally be used or understood as figurative: truly; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor. Synonyms: actually, really, unfiguratively, unmetaphorically; see also Thesaurus:actually Antonyms: figuratively, idiomatically, metaphorically, virtually Hyponym: overliterally Coordinate term: etymonically Draws attention to a pun or other wordplay involving an idiom. As an intensifier. (colloquial) Used as a general intensifier or dramatiser, sometimes tending towards a meaningless filler. (sometimes proscribed) Used as an intensifier with statements or terms that are in fact meant figuratively and not word for word as stated. (colloquial) Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely. Synonyms: merely; see also Thesaurus:merely ==== Usage notes ==== Several speakers and writers object to the use of literally as an intensifier (sense 2), wanting the word to be reserved to its strict sense (sense 1), whereas many other speakers and writers do not abide by this prescription. The use of literally as an intensifier in English predates proscriptions around its use by several centuries. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ====