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literal

In most cases, 'literal' means exactly what the words say, without any hidden meaning or exaggeration. In casual conversation, people often use 'literally' to emphasize a strong feeling or a surprising situation, even if the event didn't actually happen exactly as described. For example, saying "I literally died laughing" doesn't mean the person is dead; it just means they laughed very hard. Be careful using this emphatic version in formal writing or academic essays, as some people consider it incorrect.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Mars outpost common room during a dust storm.

Commander Tom

The wind is howling. It's like the planet is literally screaming at me.

Kip

Cut it out. It's just air pressure and you're stressing me out.

💡

Commander Tom uses 'literally' as an intensifier for his melodramatic mood, while Kip responds with a blunt, grounded correction, highlighting their personality clash.

Meanings

adjective

Taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory.

"A literal translation of the phrase often sounds awkward in English."

adjective

Exactly accurate; precise.

"The literal truth of the matter is that we simply ran out of time."

adjective

Used for emphasis or to actually mean 'virtually' (informal and often contested by prescriptivists).

"I was literal ly shaking with fear during the movie."

Last Updated: May 22, 2026•Report an Error