literally
/ˈlɪtərəli/adverb
उच्चारण लिटरली
शाब्दिक रूप से, अक्षरशः, शब्दशः
Core word
- 1
in a literal way; using the basic or original meaning of a word or phrase
शाब्दिक रूप से, अक्षरशः, शब्दशः
- The Sanskrit word 'Himalaya' literally means 'abode of snow'.
- Don't translate the sentence too literally.
- The word 'biology' literally means the study of life.
+ 2 more examples
- Do not take his advice literally.
- The name of the dish literally translates as 'fried bread'.
Synonyms word for word exactly verbatim
Opposite figuratively metaphorically loosely
- 2
used to emphasize that what you are saying is true, even though it seems surprising
सचमुच, वास्तव में
- There were literally thousands of people waiting outside the stadium.
- The festival was so crowded that there were literally no seats left.
- The river rose literally overnight.
+ 2 more examples
- It was literally the last seat on the bus.
- He has literally read every book in the library.
- 3
informal
used to emphasize a word or phrase, even if it is not actually true in a literal sense
(ज़ोर देने के लिए) एकदम, बिल्कुल
- I literally jumped out of my seat when I heard the news.
- When I saw my result, I was literally dancing with joy.
- I was literally dying of laughter.
+ 2 more examples
- We were literally frozen when we got to the hill station.
- She literally flew out of the room.
§Structures (grammar patterns) 5
literally (in a literal way)
Literally means 'word for word' or 'exactly as the words say'.
'Literally' का अर्थ है शब्दशः या ठीक वैसा जैसा शब्द कहते हैं।
- The word 'biweekly' can literally mean twice a week.
- Don't take it literally; it is only a figure of speech.
literally + adjective / verb for emphasis
Literally is used before an adjective or verb to stress that something is strictly true.
'Literally' किसी adjective या verb से पहले यह ज़ोर देने के लिए आता है कि बात सचमुच सत्य है।
- The shop was literally empty; not one customer was inside.
- The river literally overflowed its banks.
literally for exaggeration (informal)
In casual speech, literally is often used for strong exaggeration, but exams and formal writing avoid this.
बोलचाल में 'literally' का प्रयोग अक्सर अतिशयोक्ति के लिए होता है, पर परीक्षा और औपचारिक लेखन में इससे बचें।
- I was literally dying of laughter.
take / understand + literally
Use take sth literally to mean understanding the exact words and not the hidden sense.
'Take sth literally' का अर्थ है केवल शब्दों का सीधा अर्थ समझना, छिपा हुआ अर्थ नहीं।
- He took the instruction literally and left at exactly five o'clock.
literally vs figuratively
Figuratively means in an imaginative, non-exact way; literally and figuratively are opposites, and exam questions often test them.
Figuratively का अर्थ कल्पनात्मक, अशाब्दिक ढंग से है; literally और figuratively विलोम हैं और परीक्षाओं में अक्सर पूछे जाते हैं।
- Literally, the phrase means 'to kick the bucket', but figuratively it means 'to die'.
+Collocations 4
verb + literally
takeinterprettranslatemeanunderstand
- The warning should be taken literally.
literally + adjective
truehundreds ofovernightdeadcountless
- Literally hundreds of fans waited at the station for the cricketer.
literally + verb
translateexploderunshake
- The word 'ahimsa' literally translates as 'non-violence'.
figuratively vs literally
figurativelymetaphoricallyvirtuallypractically
- She was burning with anger, figuratively, not literally.
“More examples 6
- The word 'sandwich' is literally named after a person.
'Sandwich' शब्द का नाम सचमुच एक व्यक्ति के नाम पर रखा गया है।
- Radhika literally read the book from cover to cover in one night.
राधिका ने सचमुच पूरी पुस्तक एक ही रात में आरंभ से अंत तक पढ़ ली।
- The instruction said to copy the text literally, without changing any word.
निर्देश था कि पाठ को शब्दशः उतारा जाए, किसी शब्द को बदले बिना।
- The monsoon literally washed away the old bridge.
मानसून सचमुच पुराना पुल बहा ले गया।
- He was so angry that he was literally shaking.
वह इतना क्रोधित था कि सचमुच काँप रहा था।
- The notice literally says that no bag is allowed inside.
सूचना में शब्दशः लिखा है कि अंदर कोई बैग नहीं ले जाना है।
◇Word family
≈Synonyms and antonyms
§Grammar and usage
Usage: many careful speakers think it is wrong to use literally only for emphasis when something is not really true, as in 'I literally died laughing', so avoid this in formal writing.
Usage में कई सावधान वक्ता मानते हैं कि जब कोई बात सच में सत्य न हो, तब केवल ज़ोर देने के लिए literally का प्रयोग गलत है, जैसे 'I literally died laughing', इसलिए औपचारिक लेखन में इससे बचें।