literally B2 Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈlɪtəɹəli/ UK /ˈlɪtəɹəli/ See IPA manual Freq #2237 Meanings 1 adv In the exact, basic sense of the words; not figuratively. Don't take what he says literally; he often exaggerates. 2 adv Used to add emphasis to a statement. I was literally guessing the whole time. Thesaurus Word family Derived forms legiterally Etymology AI details From Middle English litteraly. See literal and letter. By surface analysis, literal + -ly. litteraly Middle English View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # literally **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /ˈlɪtəɹəli/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈlɪtəɹəli/ **Frequency rank:** 2237 ## Meanings 1. In the exact, basic sense of the words; not figuratively. 2. Used to add emphasis to a statement. ## Examples - Don't take what he says literally; he often exaggerates. - I was literally guessing the whole time. ## Derived Forms - legiterally ## Roots and Affixes - Root: litteraly ## Etymology From Middle English litteraly. See literal and letter. By surface analysis, literal + -ly. ## AI Etymology Literally comes from Middle English litteraly. See literal and letter. By surface analysis, literal + -ly. In present-day English its meanings include in the exact, basic sense of the words; not figuratively and used to add emphasis to a statement. Related and derived forms include legiterally. ## Topics - Describing Qualities markdown