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

Poor 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

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

Examples of figuratively in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Immigrant Food is in a fascinating place, both literally and figuratively. —Korsha Wilson, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

As well trying again to get the high-profile matter tossed out, Jay-Z wants the Jane Doe plaintiff’s lawyer to pay, literally and figuratively. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2025

Chef Kristi Brown is ready to give us all something to chew on—literally and figuratively. —Noel Burgess, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025

So to kick off 2025, Christine Wiseman, an award-winning bartender, shared several tequila and margarita recipes with me that both literally and figuratively spice up this classic cocktail. —Erik Ofgang, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above