Meaning & use
literal
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Following the exact meaning of words, without metaphor or exaggeration.
Grammar: Usually comes before the noun it describes: a literal translation.
Patterns
- literal translation
- literal meaning
- literal sense
The literal translation of the phrase is 'I have hunger,' but it means 'I am hungry.'
When she said she was dying of laughter, she didn't mean it in a literal sense.
He gave a literal answer to the question, missing the joke completely.
adjectivebefore a nouninformal
So basic or exact that it is hard to believe; complete (used for emphasis).
Grammar: Used before a noun to emphasize that something is extreme or true: a literal disaster.
Patterns
- literal disaster
- literal hell
- literal truth
The party was a literal disaster—the cake fell on the floor and the music stopped.
After working for twelve hours, he was in literal pain.
It was literal chaos when the fire alarm went off.
adjectivebefore a noun
Understanding words in their basic meaning, not looking for hidden meaning.
Grammar: Describes a person or their approach: a literal reader.
Patterns
- literal person
- literal reader
- literal interpretation
She is a very literal person, so she takes jokes seriously.
His literal reading of the poem missed all the symbolism.
As a literal thinker, he struggled with idioms.
Word forms
| comparative | more literal |
|---|---|
| superlative | most literal |
Common combinations
- literal meaning
- The literal meaning of 'heart' is the organ, not love.
- literal translation
- A literal translation often sounds strange in the new language.
- literal sense
- In the literal sense, the word means 'a small room'.
- literal interpretation
- Their literal interpretation of the law caused problems.
- literal truth
- The story is not literal truth but a metaphor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- exact
- Exact means completely correct in every detail; literal focuses on the basic meaning of words, not on accuracy.
- word-for-word
- Word-for-word means translating each word separately; literal can also mean the basic meaning without metaphor.
- verbatim
- Verbatim means using exactly the same words as the original; literal is broader and can describe meaning.
Opposites
Word family
- literally adverb
- In a literal way; also used informally for emphasis.
- literalism noun
- The practice of understanding words in their basic meaning.
- literality noun
- The quality of being literal.
Commonly confused: literal or literally? literal or literate?
literal vs literally
Literally is the adverb; literal is the adjective. Use 'literal meaning' but 'interpreted literally'.
literal vs literate
Literate means able to read and write; literal means following exact words.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'literal' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 uses 'literal' as an adjective describing a person. Option 1 uses 'literal' where the adverb 'literally' is needed. Option 2 uses 'literal' as a noun, which is wrong. Option 3 uses 'literal' as a verb, which is wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “literal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.