word for word

adverb

1. in exactly the same words; verbatim.
2. one word at a time, without regard for the sense of the whole:

   She translated the book word for word.

Other Words From

• word-for-word adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of word for word¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Idioms and Phrases

Exactly as written or spoken, as in That was the forecast, word for word . Chaucer used this idiom in the late 1300s.

Example Sentences

Conor has described, all but word-for-word, the position of the evangelical “post-culture warrior.”

From The Daily Beast

"Women and children starboard," came like a near, word-for-word echo.

From Project Gutenberg

But the chief instrument of her vindication is the word-for-word record of her trial at Rouen in 1431.

From Project Gutenberg

Second, Avoid word-for-word translations of English sentences in which the word you occurs.

From Project Gutenberg

All stories should be as nearly word-for-word as is possible.

From Project Gutenberg

The impossibility of such a thing as a word-for-word bringing over from one language into another.

From Project Gutenberg