adverb
definition
(manner) In a figurative manner.
definition
Used to indicate that what follows is to be taken as a figure of speech, not literally.
Examples of figuratively in a Sentence
I think I'll get back into the saddle a little – figuratively speaking.
By blow up, do you mean literally or figuratively?
It is thus used figuratively of the lowest depth of a person's spirits or the lowest point in a career.
Apart from its scriptural usage, the word is applied to any gigantic marine animal such as the whale, and hence, figuratively, of very large ships, and also of persons of outstanding strength, power, wealth or influence.
While startups may not be life or death literally, they are exactly that figuratively.
Apiarium or apiary, a beehouse or hive, is used figuratively by old writers for a place of industry, e.g.
The word is now generally a synonym for "monkey," but the common verb for both (as transferred figuratively to human beings) is "to ape," i.e.
About the same time (1747) he finally left the Anglican communion for the Baptist, leaving the church literally as well as figuratively by quitting it as the clergyman began to read the Athanasian creed.
Her thoughts jangled in her head, some desperate for him to continue, others claiming she couldn't go home if she started down this path, and still others saying she was screwed either way, figuratively and literally.
Wildly guessing at your potential size from a brand you've never worn before or taking a gamble on a style that you're not entirely sure will work, you often end up paying the price in the end - literally and figuratively.
So if you have your hands full both literally and figuratively, these glare-blocking little inventions are your solution.
They're expected to lay down their lives for the game, figuratively - everything goes on hold as they slave away at finding bugs.
Sometimes the most difficult part of stepparenting is battling the presence of the other parent, not literally, but figuratively.
A compass is used to guide you literally, while the nautical star tattoo could be used to guide you figuratively through life.
And though passages of the first class must no doubt be explained figuratively - for Philo would not assert the existence of two Divine agents - it remains true that the two conceptions cannot be fused.
I think I'll get back into the saddle a little – figuratively speaking.
If you want to wear glass prom shoes for your big night, think literally, not figuratively.
As a day of judgment it is accompanied by terrible convulsions of nature (not to be taken figuratively, but probably intended literally by the prophets in accordance with their view of the absolute subordination of nature to the divine purpose for man).
The Microsoft Xbox is the big daddy of the console world, both literally and figuratively.