I literally just restrung this ukelele. Not metaphorically, not figuratively, but literally just restrung the thing!
by Audrey_Hepburn August 26, 2014
An adverb. Used to describe a word, phrase, or situation that can described in both a literal and figurative sense.
John: "When I first saw her, my soul began to quiver-- And I mean that literally and figuratively."
Betsy: "You mean literatively?"
"...and I mean that literatively"
Betsy: "You mean literatively?"
"...and I mean that literatively"
by glassElement August 24, 2009
A word to show that it really happened. Not to be confused with figuratively.
Correct Usage: It rained so hard last night, I could LITERALLY hear the raindrops as I was sleeping.
The person could hear the rain falling down while they were sleeping.
Incorrect Usage: It was LITERALLY raining cats and dogs last night.
Apparently, cats and dogs were falling from the sky last night, according to this person.
If you got this wrong, I don't blame you. I didn't know for a while, too.
Correct Usage: It rained so hard last night, I could LITERALLY hear the raindrops as I was sleeping.
The person could hear the rain falling down while they were sleeping.
Incorrect Usage: It was LITERALLY raining cats and dogs last night.
Apparently, cats and dogs were falling from the sky last night, according to this person.
If you got this wrong, I don't blame you. I didn't know for a while, too.
Literally is not figuratively.
by ThatPyro August 16, 2015
by Newt Cobain March 25, 2015
by Kyle "The Yellow Dart" Zager November 29, 2003
by Joerz December 23, 2016