literally — in a literal manner or sense; exactly
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: in a literal manner or sense; exactly
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈlɪtərəli/
Example Sentences
- My boss literally breathes down my neck during presentations.
- The translation should be done literally, not creatively.
- I literally jumped out of my skin when the alarm went off.
literally
ADVERB[/ˈlɪtərəli/]
in a literal manner or sense; exactly
He literally jumped out of his chair when the spider crawled across his desk.
Moving laterally, healed bilaterally - literally perfect!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Latin 'litera' (letter, character), which evolved through Medieval Latin 'literalis' (relating to letters) to mean 'according to the letter' or 'word for word.' It entered modern English with the sense of adhering strictly to the original meaning or form.
Breakdown
litera- (letter) + -al (adjective-forming suffix meaning 'of or relating to') + -ly (adverb-forming suffix), creating an adverbial form meaning 'in a literal manner.'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My boss literally breathes down my neck during presentations.”
“The translation should be done literally, not creatively.”
“I literally jumped out of my skin when the alarm went off.”
“She literally works around the clock to finish the project.”
📚Related Words
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