HOW TO PRONOUNCE
literally
/ˈlɪ.tə.ɹə.li/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:57
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LIT-uh-ruh-lee: keep both middle vowels.
The dictionary also records shorter forms with one of those light vowels omitted. In either case, the main beat stays on the first syllable.
TRY SAYING
“The shelves were literally covered in dust.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗What does literally mean?
adverb
- Without overstatement or understatement, or false or misleading words.
- With phrasings that might normally be used or understood as figurative: truly; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor.
- Draws attention to a pun or other wordplay involving an idiom.
More meanings (3)
adverb
- Used as a general intensifier or dramatiser, sometimes tending towards a meaningless filler.
- Used as an intensifier with statements or terms that are in fact meant figuratively and not word for word as stated.
- Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈlɪ.tə.ɹə.li/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
There was literally a taste of life on his lips as he sat down to dinner and ordered a bottle of champagne.
Although this man had, literally, glided into the room, he had not been able to prevent M. Leblanc catching sight of him.
More book examples (3)
At the date I have mentioned, the doctors pronounced the sentence on poor Lady Verinder, which was literally a sentence of death.
Occasionally, when the little victim shows pluck and faces his assailant, the kingbird will literally turn tail and show the white feather.
You would be more diverted with a Mrs. Holman, whose passion is keeping an assembly, and inviting literally every body to it.