figuratively
adverb
fig·u·ra·tive·ly
ˈfi-g(y)ə-rə-tiv-lē 
: in a figurative way: such as
a
: with a meaning that is metaphorical rather than literal
Speaking of panic, I recently ran into (figuratively, not literally) a friend who was ranting about giant "bees" digging holes in his lawn.—
Ron Kujawski
Ron KujawskiPoor small-town America. During the last gasps of this fevered election, pollsters, zealous campaign foot soldiers and reporters are kicking down its doors, figuratively speaking …—Doug Colligan
Doug Colligan
b
: in a way intended to represent the form or figure of something or someone having objective reality : in a way that is not purely abstract
Franz Kline, who had always painted figuratively, made his breakthrough in 1949 when he looked at one of his sketches in a Bell-Opticon magnifier, and saw the rough, thrusting horizontals and verticals that became the basis of his new abstract style.—Calvin Tomkins
Calvin TomkinsExamples of figuratively in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And the jersey has the DNA, literally and figuratively, of the near crippling anxiety felt by Maris in the face of a very vocal pushback against his quest, first in competing neck-and-neck with the beloved Mickey Mantle for the record and then in favor of Ruth.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
His nine-piece backing band surely helped, illustrating how his sound has grown both literally and figuratively, as did his raw vocals — especially on songs that were originally recorded quite differently.
—Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 14 Apr. 2025
The depot put Boise on the map — both literally and figuratively, Stevens said.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 14 Apr. 2025
At every step, he's been able to invest some money into other people's good ideas and then cash out—literally and figuratively—with more money and a gaudier reputation, despite contributing very little.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
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Michael Salfino, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
His nine-piece backing band surely helped, illustrating how his sound has grown both literally and figuratively, as did his raw vocals — especially on songs that were originally recorded quite differently.
—Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 14 Apr. 2025
The depot put Boise on the map — both literally and figuratively, Stevens said.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 14 Apr. 2025
At every step, he's been able to invest some money into other people's good ideas and then cash out—literally and figuratively—with more money and a gaudier reputation, despite contributing very little.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for figuratively
Cite this Entry
“Figuratively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figuratively. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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