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literally definition

lit·er·ally (litər əl ē)

adverb

in a literal manner or sense; specif.,
  1. word for word; not imaginatively, figuratively, or freely to translate a passage literally
  2. 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 used figuratively [she literally flew into the room]: this latter usage is objected to by some

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Literally not so literal33 years ago

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