During these dog days of summer, you may say, “It’s so hot, I’m literally melting.” But unless you’re a giant talking ice cream cone, that sentence is far from literal. The word “literally” means “in a literal sense,” which implies that you’re talking about something factually, precisely, and accurately. However, people often use the word in a figurative sense, which drives grammar pedants up a wall. You may be surprised (or reassured) to learn, though, that there are plenty of times when it’s OK to use “literally” figuratively — and reputable dictionaries agree.
The word “literally” was coined in the 1530s from the Latin literalis, meaning “of or belonging to letters or writing.” By the 17th century, that definition had already begun to shift as people increasingly used “literally” for hyperbole and in metaphors. In 1876, Mark Twain wrote in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: “And when the middle of the afternoon came, from being a poor poverty-stricken boy in the morning, Tom was literally rolling in wealth.”
This figurative usage continued to grow more widespread, and eventually, dictionaries took notice. Both the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster contain seemingly opposing definitions for the word “literally,” stating it can be used both literally and figuratively. “Literally” is a Janus word, meaning it can act as its own opposite; other examples include “cleave” (which means both “to split” and “to adhere”) and “oversight” (“supervision” and “omission”). When Merriam-Webster updated the definition of “literally” in 2013, editors explained they “included this definition for a very simple reason: a lot of people use it this way, and our entries are based on evidence of use.”
If you find yourself using “literally” in the figurative sense, don’t worry, because you’re not alone, nor are you incorrect. If a grammar stickler gives you a hard time, just point them to the dictionary and go on your merry way.
