literal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It is late for the literal, no?” he protests when the narrator presses him on biographical specifics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The second season of “Paradise” ended with a literal bang.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

It’s weird to be alive at a time when much of contemporary warfare comprises literal laser beams, flying robots and dungeons full of nerds at computer terminals, but that’s really what’s happening.

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026

Epstein is hardly the first rich American to pursue the literal eugenic, or “beautiful gene.”

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

“Okay, it’s kind of like a lost cat ad, except the cat’s actually a cute boy you met at the post office. But a human cute boy. Not a literal cat.”

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera