Master confusing words with ease
Literally vs. Figuratively
Literally
/ˈlɪtərəli/Examples:
He literally looks as if he had been varnished all over.'He had, almost literally, been cut to ribbons.Aramis rose, his eyes literally bloodshot, his mouth trembling convulsively.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Figuratively
/ˈfɪɡj(ə)rətɪvli/Examples:
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Literally is used to describe something that actually happened, while figuratively conveys a symbolic or metaphorical meaning.
- If you say "I literally died of laughter," it means something serious happened, which is likely not true; use figuratively instead.
- Use literally when youre providing factual information and want to stress that what youre saying is true and not exaggerated.
- Remember that figuratively is for exaggeration, symbolism, and figurative speech, not for stating facts.
- Think of literally as grounded in reality and figuratively as creative or exaggerated speech.
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