Literally

Pronunciation: /ˈlɪtərəli/

Definitions of literally

adverb used to emphasize the truth and accuracy of a statement or description

Example Sentences

A1 I literally just saw a cat outside.

A2 She literally ran to catch the bus.

B1 I literally cannot believe how fast time flies.

B2 He literally jumped for joy when he heard the news.

C1 The painting is literally a masterpiece of modern art.

C2 She literally danced until dawn at the party.

Examples of literally in a Sentence

formal The scientist's research findings literally changed the way we understand the universe.

informal I literally can't believe how fast time flies when I'm having fun.

slang She literally slayed that performance on stage last night.

figurative His words were so powerful, they literally pierced my heart.

Grammatical Forms of literally

• past tense: literally
• plural: literally
• comparative: more literally
• superlative: most literally
• present tense: literally
• future tense: will literally
• perfect tense: have literally
• continuous tense: literally
• singular: literally
• positive degree: literally
• infinitive: to literally
• gerund: literally
• participle: literally

Origin and Evolution of literally

First Known Use: 1533 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'literally' originated from the Latin word 'literalis', which means 'of or belonging to letters or writing'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to emphasize the truth of a statement, 'literally' has evolved to also be used for emphasis in a figurative sense, leading to controversy and debate over its correct usage.