Difference Wiki

Literally vs. Figuratively

The main difference between literally and figuratively is that the meaning of the word literally is exact and real, whereas the meaning of figuratively is metaphorical.

Key Differences

Literally means in a direct or exact This word literally is not loosely used as an intensifier conversely the word figuratively has the opposite meaning of literally. It means not exact but in an analogous sense.
The word literally refers to the fact or refers to the direct or exact meaning, whereas the word figuratively refers to the double or metaphorical meaning.
In its common use, the word literally means in a strict sense; on the other hand, figuratively has a meaning in an indirect way.
The meaning of literally is something that happened in real on the flip side the meaning of figuratively is metaphorical.
Harlon Moss
Oct 02, 2019
The word “literal” originates from the Latin word “littera” meaning letter, on the contrary, the word “figuratively” originates from Middle English, from late Latin “figurativus/figurare/figura” which means figure or ‘to form or fashion.’
For example, if someone says that I am literally dancing with joy, this literally means that he or she is performing dance steps, whirling, or jumping with joy.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 02, 2019
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Literally means something which is actually, real or exact while figuratively means something other than literal.
Literally is used when the word has no change from its dictionary, meaning inversely figuratively is used for idioms or exaggerations.
If you want to assert the reality of something you use the word literally contrarily if you want to say something which you don’t mean, you use figuratively in such context.
Harlon Moss
Oct 02, 2019
Literally is used to describe a factually accurate thing, without any exaggeration, e.g. my project related to my new company is literally very hard to complete inversely figuratively directs the literal devices like hyperbolic or metaphor. It is what we call figurative language, e.g. this recipe of fried chicken soup is figuratively harder than any recipe in the world.

Comparison Chart

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The meaning of the word literally is exact and real
The meaning of the word figuratively is metaphorical

Message

Direct
Indirect
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Language

Simple
Stylistic

Literal Devices

Not present
Present

Change in Dictionary Meaning

No
Yes

Literally and Figuratively Definitions

Literally

In a literal manner; word for word
Translated the Greek passage literally.

Figuratively

Based on or making use of figures of speech; metaphorical
Figurative language.

Literally

In a literal or strict sense
Don't take my remarks literally.
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Figuratively

Containing many figures of speech; ornate.

Literally

Actually; in effect; practically. Used as an intensive to emphasize a figurative statement in an exaggerated way
“There are people in the world who literally do not know how to boil water” (Craig Claiborne). I was so angry that my heart literally exploded with rage.

Figuratively

Represented by a figure or resemblance; symbolic or emblematic.

Literally

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.

Figuratively

Of or relating to artistic representation by means of animal or human figures.

Literally

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.
My daughter's pet rabbit had babies, and now we've literally got rabbits coming out of our ears.
On 9/11 people were literally glued to their TV sets.

Figuratively

(manner) In a figurative manner.

Literally

(colloquial) Used to intensify or dramatize non-figurative statements.
I had no idea, so I was literally guessing.
I was literally having breakfast when she arrived.
She was literally like, "What?", and I was literally like, "Yeah".
Literally who is this?

Figuratively

Used to indicate that what follows is to be taken as a figure of speech, not literally.

Literally

(colloquial) Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely.
It's not even hard⁠ to make—you literally just put it in the microwave for five minutes and it's done.
It won't take me long to get back, cause the store's literally two blocks away.

Figuratively

In a figurative sense;
Figuratively speaking,...

Literally

According to the primary and natural import of words; not figuratively; as, a man and his wife can not be literally one flesh.

Literally

With close adherence to words; word by word.
So wild and ungovernable a poet can not be translated literally.

Literally

In a literal sense;
Literally translated
He said so literally

Literally

(intensifier before a figurative expression) without exaggeration;
Our eyes were literally pinned to TV during the Gulf war

Literally vs. Figuratively

The words literally and figuratively are different from each other. If you want your writing to be precise, then you must keep these two words separated. Literally and figuratively are used differently in their own appropriate contexts. The meaning of “literally” is something that happened in real. The meaning of “figuratively” is known as metaphorical meaning.

Literally means something which is actually, real or exact. ‘Figuratively’ can mean something other than literal. Literally means in a direct, subtle or exact sense. This word “literally” is sometimes used as an intensifier. The word figuratively has the opposite meaning of literally. It means not exact but in an analogous sense.

In its common use, the word literally means in an exact or strict sense. For example, if someone says that I am literally dancing with joy, this literally means that he or she is performing dance steps, whirling or jumping with joy. Figuratively has a meaning in a metaphorical context.

If you say something which you don’t mean, you use figuratively in such context. In other words, a thing which you express through the figures of speech is figurative. For example, if someone says that he or she is figuratively dancing with joy then it means that he/she is extremely happy but not exactly making dance moves physically.

Both words have different origins. The word “literal” originates from the Latin word “littera” meaning letter. The word “figuratively” originates from Middle English, from late Latin “figurativus/figurare/figura” which means figure or ‘to form or fashion.’

Literally is used to describe a factually accurate thing, without any exaggeration. My project related to my new company is literally very hard to complete. Figuratively is used for idioms or exaggerations inversely literally is used when the word has no change from its dictionary meaning.

What is Literally?

Literally is an adjective which means ‘in an exact/real sense.’ The meaning of literally is something that happened in real. The word literally means something which is actually, real or exact. This word is used where there is no exaggeration or use of devices like hyperbole, metaphor, allegory, etc.

Literally is used to different degrees since the early 19th century. The modern use of ‘literally’ is common as an intensifier. However, the intensive use of literally is not related to what is “literal.” The word “literal” originates from the Latin word “littera” meaning letter. Literally is used to describe the factually accurate thing, without any exaggeration. My project related to my new company is literally very hard to complete.

The word literally is also used as an adverb that means ‘in a literal manner.’ The word literally is also sometimes not true in informal settings but is still used for emphasis. In its common use, the word literally means in an exact or strict sense. For example, if someone says that I am literally dancing with joy, this literally means that he or she is performing dance steps, whirling or jumping with joy.

‘Literally’ is synonymous with exactly, very, or truly. The synonyms for of literally can be actually and really. The colloquial Synonyms for literally are “in effect or virtually.” In academic English, these synonyms are used instead of the word literally because this literally is widely viewed as an error. Literally means “in actual sense, without exaggeration.” It is used when speaking about something in a direct and exact sense.

Examples

  • I wrote the literal translation of an essay on criticism.
  • I told him to jump in a well and oh my god he literally did.
  • I have literally received thousands of wishes for my birthday.

What is Figuratively?

The word figuratively is an adjective which has means not exact but in an analogous sense. Its meaning is the opposite of that of literally. Figuratively has a rather metaphorical meaning. It can mean something other than literal. If you say something which you don’t mean, you use figuratively in such context.

In other words, a thing which you express through the figures of speech is figurative. For example, if someone says that he or she is figuratively dancing with joy then it means that he/she is extremely happy but not exactly making dance moves physically.

The word “figuratively” originates from Middle English, from late Latin “figurativus/figurare/figura” which means figure or ‘to form or fashion.’ Figuratively means containing devices such as metaphor, hyperbole, allegory, or other figures of speech. Figuratively is used for idioms or exaggerations.

The word figuratively is identified by having in it the word ‘figure’ which can relate with figures of speech, e.g. metaphor, analogy. The meaning of figuratively is in an analogous sense. Some dictionaries define the word figuratively as “deviation from the literal use of words.”

The use of figuratively makes the words or sentence different from its said meaning. ‘Figuratively’ represents forms that are rationally derived from life. Figuratively has a meaning different from its dictionary definition. Idioms fall into the category of figurative language.

Examples

  • I am so hungry that I can figuratively eat a camel right now.
  • She was so angry that her face figuratively turned as a bee
  • I am so angry that I can kill you, figuratively!

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