literally

  1. Adverb.  (context, speech act) word for word; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor.
  2. Adverb.  (context, degree) ''used non-literally as an intensifier for figurative statements'': virtually (often considered incorrect; see usage notes).
  3. Adverb.  (British, colloquial) ''Used as a generic downtoner'': just, merely.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.