figuratively
adverb
fig·u·ra·tive·ly
ˈfi-g(y)ə-rə-tiv-lē 
: in a figurative way: such as
a
: with a meaning that is metaphorical rather than literal
Speaking of panic, I recently ran into (figuratively, not literally) a friend who was ranting about giant "bees" digging holes in his lawn.—
Ron Kujawski
Ron KujawskiPoor small-town America. During the last gasps of this fevered election, pollsters, zealous campaign foot soldiers and reporters are kicking down its doors, figuratively speaking …—Doug Colligan
Doug Colligan
b
: in a way intended to represent the form or figure of something or someone having objective reality : in a way that is not purely abstract
Franz Kline, who had always painted figuratively, made his breakthrough in 1949 when he looked at one of his sketches in a Bell-Opticon magnifier, and saw the rough, thrusting horizontals and verticals that became the basis of his new abstract style.—Calvin Tomkins
Calvin TomkinsExamples of figuratively in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Morigi/Getty Images The pair loosened up a bit more for their second red carpet, literally and figuratively.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 28 Apr. 2024
But Retail Track ran out of gas (figuratively) and out of time (literally) — and the local bar with cold Pabst Blue Ribbon cans was beckoning.
—Ed Christman, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2024
It’s paid, figuratively and literally, for athletes to stay in school.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Things get lost in translation literally and figuratively.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 19 Apr. 2024
Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
The final nation, the totalitarian socialist state North Korea, was literally and figuratively half a world away.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
But what makes the film snap, crackle and pop — literally and figuratively — is Sánchez’s remarkably creative drumming.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
Barbara Corcoran’s face is one of her most valuable assets, figuratively and literally speaking.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 28 Apr. 2024
But Retail Track ran out of gas (figuratively) and out of time (literally) — and the local bar with cold Pabst Blue Ribbon cans was beckoning.
—Ed Christman, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2024
It’s paid, figuratively and literally, for athletes to stay in school.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Things get lost in translation literally and figuratively.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 19 Apr. 2024
Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
The final nation, the totalitarian socialist state North Korea, was literally and figuratively half a world away.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
But what makes the film snap, crackle and pop — literally and figuratively — is Sánchez’s remarkably creative drumming.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
Barbara Corcoran’s face is one of her most valuable assets, figuratively and literally speaking.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'figuratively.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Figuratively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figuratively. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
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