You can use literally to emphasize a statement. Some careful speakers of English think that this use is incorrect.
[emphasis]
We've got to get the economy under control or it will literally eat us up.
The views are literally breath-taking.
2. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You use literally to emphasize that what you are saying is true, even though it seems exaggerated or surprising.
[emphasis]
Putting on an opera is a tremendous enterprise involving literally hundreds of people.
I literally crawled to the car.
3. adverb [ADVERB with verb]
If a word or expression is translated literally, its most simple or basic meaning is translated.
The word 'volk' translates literally as 'folk'.
A stanza is, literally, a room.
Synonyms: exactly, really, closely, actually More Synonyms of literally
4.
See take sth literally
literally in British English
(ˈlɪtərəlɪ)
adverb
1.
in a literal manner
2.
(intensifier)
there were literally thousands of people
▶ USAGE The use of literally as an intensifier is common, esp in informal contexts. In some cases, it providesemphasis without adding to the meaning: the house was literally only five minutes walk away. Often, however, its use results in absurdity: the news was literally an eye-opener to me. It is therefore best avoided in formal contexts
literally in American English
(ˈlɪtərəli)
adverb
in a literal manner or sense
; specif.,
a.
word for word; not imaginatively, figuratively, or freely
to translate a passage literally
b.
actually; in fact [the house literally burned to the ground]
now often used as an intensive to modify a word or phrase that itself is being usedfiguratively [she literally flew into the room]: this latter usage is objected to by some
Examples of 'literally' in a sentence
literally
This car literally does it all.
The Sun (2016)
Take him both literally and seriously.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
People were literally freezing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is really important and some savvy people literally map it.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This idea should not be taken too literally.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And people are quite literally eating it up.
Christianity Today (2000)
But it seems wrong that the man is literally allowed to get away with murder.
The Sun (2007)
Some people are literally born to run.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It literally takes five seconds to change a schedule.
The Sun (2009)
People will literally be able to save for the planet.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It literally makes us take leave of our senses and behave in ways we normally would not.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
People were literally laughing at how bad it was.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It is to be hoped that no one takes her literally.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It is also bringing people literally closer together.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But should we take the images literally?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This is the perfect way for me to have my cake and eat it, literally.
The Sun (2014)
They would literally kill get into Britain.
The Sun (2016)
It means you can have your cake and eat it, literally.
The Sun (2012)
She literally couldn't get there.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My body literally gets blocked.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I imagine the drivers would literally push their cars around, so as not to qualify first.
The Sun (2016)
The longer we take to tackle this, the bigger it gets - literally.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
By the end, as they tentatively step across the threshold, they are literally eating out of her hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I was always singing round the house, in the car, literally the whole time.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
literally
British English: literally /ˈlɪtərəlɪ/ ADVERB
You can use literally to emphasize a statement.
The view is literally breathtaking.
American English: literally
Arabic: حَرْفِيّاً
Brazilian Portuguese: literalmente
Chinese: 确实地
Croatian: doslovce
Czech: doslova
Danish: bogstavelig talt
Dutch: letterlijk
European Spanish: literalmente
Finnish: kirjaimellisesti
French: littéralement
German: wörtlich
Greek: κυριολεκτικά
Italian: letteralmente
Japanese: 文字どおりに
Korean: 글자 그대로
Norwegian: bokstavelig
Polish: dosłownie
European Portuguese: literalmente
Romanian: de-a dreptul
Russian: буквально
Latin American Spanish: literalmente
Swedish: bokstavligen
Thai: อย่างแท้จริง
Turkish: harfi harfine
Ukrainian: буквально
Vietnamese: theo nghĩa đen
Chinese translation of 'literally'
literally
(ˈlɪtrəlɪ)
adv
(used for emphasis) 确(確)实(實)地 (quèshí de)
[translate]逐字地 (zhúzì de)
(adverb)
The word `volk' translates literally as `folk'.
Synonyms
exactly
Can you describe exactly what he looked like?
really
They didn't really enjoy themselves.
closely
actually
He had actually felt pain several times, but he had ignored it.
simply
plainly
truly
a truly democratic system
precisely
Please repeat precisely what she said.
strictly
faithfully
to the letter
She obeyed his instructions to the letter.
verbatim
The president's speeches are reproduced verbatim in the state-run newspapers.
word for word
Additional synonyms
in the sense of actually
Definition
as an actual fact
He had actually felt pain several times, but he had ignored it.
Synonyms
really,
in fact,
indeed,
essentially,
truly,
literally,
genuinely,
in reality,
in truth,
in actuality,
in point of fact,
veritably,
as a matter of fact
in the sense of precisely
Please repeat precisely what she said.
Synonyms
word for word,
literally,
exactly,
to the letter,
neither more nor less
in the sense of really
Definition
in reality
They didn't really enjoy themselves.
Synonyms
truly,
actually,
in fact,
indeed,
in reality,
in actuality
Synonyms of 'literally'
literally
Explore 'literally' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of to the letter
Definition
precisely
She obeyed his instructions to the letter.
Synonyms
precisely,
strictly,
literally,
exactly,
faithfully,
accurately,
word for word,
punctiliously
in the sense of truly
Definition
really
a truly democratic system
Synonyms
genuinely,
really,
correctly,
truthfully,
rightly,
in fact,
precisely,
exactly,
legitimately,
accurately,
in reality,
in truth,
beyond doubt,
without a doubt,
authentically,
beyond question,
factually,
in actuality,
veritably,
veraciously
in the sense of verbatim
Definition
using exactly the same words
The president's speeches are reproduced verbatim in the state-run newspapers.