figuratively
Americanadverb
-
in a way that involves or invokes a metaphor or figure of speech; metaphorically.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated to remove darkness from our lives both literally and figuratively.
We figuratively envision personal space as an aura or a soap bubble.
-
by means of a figure, likeness, or emblem.
In art and literature, the former kingdom was often figuratively presented as a woman.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of figuratively
Compare meaning
How does figuratively compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
The adverb figuratively describes something symbolic, not actual. If a friend invites you to tonight's concert but you already have plans with your family, you might say — figuratively — that your hands are tied. Something that's said figuratively isn't intended to be taken as the literal truth, but as a symbol of something, or as emphasis. Figures of speech are good examples of things people say figuratively, like "the book begged to be read," or "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" — not meant to be understood literally (you really don't want to eat that horse, do you?). The Latin word figurare, "to form or fashion," is the root of figuratively.
Vocabulary lists containing figuratively
Dear Martin
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Commonly Confused Words, List 2
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A Very Large Expanse of Sea
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Today’s financial news is the investment equivalent of the Sirens’ song, so you need to figuratively tie yourself to the mast to avoid its allure.
From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026
Even so, there’s rarely been such a combination of signals to literally and figuratively take some chips off the table.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026
“While we have that debate, we should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally.”
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
Luckily, he didn’t go through with it, becausea lot of TV figuratively dropped on his head anyway.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026
People often use it loosely in place of figuratively, which means “metaphorically” or “imaginatively.”
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
