English Dictionary

literally

/ˈlɪtəɹəli/

adv

Word for word; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor.

He translated the text literally.

意味（1）

Word for word; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor.

When I saw on the news that there would be no school tomorrow because of the snowstorm, I literally jumped for joy, and hit my head on the ceiling fan.

意味（2）

(degree, figuratively, proscribed, contranym) Used non-literally as an intensifier for figurative statements: virtually, so to speak (often considered incorrect; see usage notes)

He was so surprised, he literally jumped twenty feet in the air.

意味（3）

(colloquial) Used to intensify or dramatize non-figurative statements.

I had no idea, so I was literally guessing.

意味（4）

(colloquial) Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely.

It's not even hard⁠ to make—you literally just put it in the microwave for five minutes and it's done.