figuratively

fig·u·ra·tive (f

-t

adj.

a. Based on or making use of figures of speech; metaphorical: figurative language.

b. Containing many figures of speech; ornate.

2. Represented by a figure or resemblance; symbolic or emblematic.

3. Of or relating to artistic representation by means of animal or human figures.

figu·ra·tive·ly adv.

figu·ra·tive·ness n.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adv.

figuratively - in a figurative sense; "figuratively speaking,..."

literally - in a literal sense; "literally translated"; "he said so literally"

Translations

figuratively [ˈfɪgərətɪvlɪ] ADV → figuradamente, en sentido figurado
he was speaking figuratively → hablaba en sentido figurado
you should understand this figuratively → hay que entender esto en sentido figurado

figuratively [ˈfɪgərətɪvli] adv → au sens figuré
literally and figuratively → au propre comme au figuré

figuratively

adv → im übertragenen Sinn; figuratively speaking → bildlich gesprochen; I’m speaking figuratively there → das ist natürlich nicht wörtlich gemeint

figuratively [ˈfɪgərətɪvlɪ] adv → in modo figurato

Mentioned in	?		References in classic literature	?		Dictionary browser	?		Full browser	?
boil down boil over literally	To express myself less figuratively, he determined to go to sea. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Fielding, Henry View in context There was a star upon his forehead, and around his young face there glowed an aureole of gold and roses--to speak figuratively, for the star upon his brow was hope, and the gold and roses encircling his head, a miniature rainbow, were youth and health. The Quest of the Golden Girl by le Gallienne, Richard View in context Less figuratively speaking, he came up into the printing-office to expose from the book the nefarious plagiarism of an editor in a neighboring city, who had adapted with the change of names and a word or two here and there, whole passages from the essay on Barere, to the denunciation of a brother editor. My Literary Passions by Howells,William Dean View in context	fighting patrol fighting top fighting word Fightingly Fightwite figjam figment Figpecker Figulate figuline Figurability Figurable figural figural blindness Figural numbers figurant Figurante figurate Figurate counterpoint Figurate numbers Figurated Figurately figuration figurative Figurative counterpoint figuratively figure Figure caster figure eight Figure flinging figure loom figure of eight figure of merit figure of speech figure on figure out Figure painting figure skate figure skating Figure stone Figure weaving figure-conscious figure-ground phenomenon figure-hugging Figure-of-eight knot figure-skate figured figured bass figured-fabric loom figurehead figurer	Figurate counterpoint Figurate number Figurate numbers Figurated Figurately figuration figuration figuration figuration figurations figurations figurations figurations Figuratism figurative figurative figurative Figurative art figurative constant Figurative counterpoint Figurative language Figurative lanugage Figurative lanugage Figurative lanugage Figurative lanugage Figurative painting Figurative Speech Figurative Speech Figurative Speech Figurative Speech figuratively figurativeness figurativeness figurativeness figure figure figure figure figure figure figure figure Figure 3 Sign Figure 8 Figure 8 Appearance figure 8 distribution Figure 8 Sign figure and ground figure as Figure caster Figure Control Actuators Figure dash Figure dash Figure dash Figure dash Figure Detection 1 figure dimension Figure Drawing Test figure eight Figure Eight (knot) Figure Eight Appearance

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boil down
boil over
literally

To express myself less figuratively, he determined to go to sea.

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Fielding, Henry View in context

There was a star upon his forehead, and around his young face there glowed an aureole of gold and roses--to speak figuratively, for the star upon his brow was hope, and the gold and roses encircling his head, a miniature rainbow, were youth and health.

The Quest of the Golden Girl by le Gallienne, Richard View in context

Less figuratively speaking, he came up into the printing-office to expose from the book the nefarious plagiarism of an editor in a neighboring city, who had adapted with the change of names and a word or two here and there, whole passages from the essay on Barere, to the denunciation of a brother editor.

My Literary Passions by Howells,William Dean View in context

figuratively playV2('en/US/st/stdsdrdostssdssrsksndnssyfh3gl');playV2('en/UK/st/stdsdrdostssdssrsksndnssyfh3gl')

figuratively