Definition
In the exact sense of a word or phrase; denoting something that happened or is true in fact, without exaggeration or metaphor. Often used colloquially to emphasize a statement, even when the strict literal meaning is not intended.
Example Usage
I was literally waiting for hours before they arrived.
Origin
From Latin 'littera' (letter), originally meaning 'according to the letter' or word-for-word.
Fun Fact
The informal intensifier usage has become so common that major dictionaries now include it as a secondary definition, much to the dismay of prescriptive grammarians.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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See “literally” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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