metaphorically C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˌmɛtəˈfɔrɪkli/ UK /ˌmɛtəˈfɒrɪkli/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adv in a figurative sense, not literally Metaphorically speaking, the company was sinking fast. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adv · in a figurative sense, not... figurativelysymbolicallyallegoricallyemblematically ↔ Opposites literallyfactually Word family Related forms metaphormetaphoricalmetaphoric Etymology AI details From metaphorical + -ly, from metaphor (Greek metaphorā 'a transfer', from metapherein 'to carry over', from meta- 'over' + pherein 'to carry'). metaphorā Ancient Greek pherein Ancient Greek View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # metaphorically **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /ˌmɛtəˈfɔrɪkli/ **IPA (UK):** /ˌmɛtəˈfɒrɪkli/ ## Meanings 1. in a figurative sense, not literally ## Examples - Metaphorically speaking, the company was sinking fast. ## Synonyms - figuratively - symbolically - allegorically - emblematically ## Antonyms - literally - factually ## Related Forms - metaphor - metaphorical - metaphoric ## Roots and Affixes - Root: metaphorā - Root: pherein ## Etymology From metaphorical + -ly, from metaphor (Greek metaphorā 'a transfer', from metapherein 'to carry over', from meta- 'over' + pherein 'to carry'). ## AI Etymology Metaphorically comes from metaphorical + -ly, from metaphor (Greek metaphorā 'a transfer', from metapherein 'to carry over', from meta- 'over' + pherein 'to carry'). The etymological trail includes Ancient Greek metaphorā, Ancient Greek pherein. The same word family includes metaphor, metaphorical, metaphoric. Its current adverb use means "in a figurative sense, not literally". ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown