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Definition literally in British English

literally adverb

adverb
/ˈlɪt(ə)rəli/
1

used for showing that what you are saying is really true and is not just an impressive way of describing something

Example

Now there are literally thousands of companies using our software.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

used when you are describing something in an extreme way that cannot be true

Example

When I told him the news he literally exploded.

Synonyms and related words
2

in the most basic, obvious meanings of the words that are used

Example

There's an Italian dessert called tiramisu, which literally means 'pull me up'.

Example

Children take things literally when they hear them from a teacher.

Synonyms and related words
3

if you translate something literally, you translate each word separately in a way that does not sound natural

Synonyms and related words
Definition literally in British English