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.
Simpson was acquitted, but he never regained the public’s affection or goodwill, and will forever be remembered as a pariah who perhaps got away with literal murder.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
If so, then we’re layering another dimension of time onto something that was supposed to be timeless in the literal sense.
From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026
It was, in the most literal sense, an editorial board convened to decide what deserved to be believed.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
Some of the candidates’ fantasy characters were literal — City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, a labor organizer running for reelection, was a barbarian named “Hugo the Organizer” using his “righteous indignation” to organize workers.
From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026
“Like she’s afraid to speak. And when you look at her, she turns bright red—red-red, like a tomato. A literal tomato.”
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Vocabulary lists containing literal
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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AP English Lit exam terms
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Vocabulary to Describe Literary Devices
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