ReadingWillow structured literacy program for Australian students

Dictionary Entry

literal

adjective

Find the meaning of the word literal, plus dictionary definition, pronunciation, thesaurus-style synonyms, antonyms, and related vocabulary.

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1

Meaning

Dictionary meaning in a clear, student-friendly format.

Taking words in their basic, exact sense without metaphor or exaggeration

Example Sentence

When she said the box weighed a ton, she didn’t mean it in a literal sense.

Usage Note

Use "literal" to stress that you’re not exaggerating or speaking metaphorically, especially when discussing language, math, or science.