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figuratively

intermediateB2

/ˈfɪɡjʊrətɪvli/ · fig-ur-at-ive-ly

In a manner that departs from the literal sense; not literally.

Meanings

adverbformal

In a manner that departs from the literal sense; not literally.

ایسے انداز میں جو حرفی معنی سے ہٹے؛ مطلب کہ حقیقی طور پر نہیں۔

تمثیلی طور پر

tamseeli tor par

Synonyms

metaphoricallysymbolicallyallegoricallyتشبیہیعلامتیمثالی

Antonyms

literallyactuallyحرفی طور پرواقعی

Common Collocations

  • figuratively speaking
  • use figuratively
  • think of it figuratively

Example Sentences

She was figuratively speaking when she said she could eat a horse.

جب اس نے کہا کہ وہ ایک گھوڑا کھا سکتی ہے تو وہ تمثیلی طور پر بول رہی تھی۔

jab us ne kaha ke woh aik ghora khaa sakti hai to woh tamseeli tor par bol rahi thi.

The author uses the term figuratively to convey deeper meanings.

مصنف اس اصطلاح کو تمثیلی طور پر گہرے معنی پہنچانے کے لیے استعمال کرتا ہے۔

musannif is istilah ko tamseeli tor par gehre ma'ni pohanchane ke liye istemal karta hai.

He described the city as a 'melting pot' figuratively, referring to its diverse culture.

اس نے شہر کو 'پگھلنے والے برتن' کی طرح تمثیلی طور پر بیان کیا، جو اس کی متنوع ثقافت کی طرف اشارہ کرتا ہے۔

us ne shahr ko 'pighalne wale bartann' ki tarah tamseeli tor par bayan kiya, jo is ki mutanawwi saqafat ki taraf ishara karta hai.

Easily Confused With

literally:While 'figuratively' means departing from the literal sense, 'literally' means exactly as stated without exaggeration.

Word Family

figurative
adjectiveتمثیلی
figurative language
nounتمثیلی زبان

See Also

💡 Memory Tip

Think of figurative language as painting images with words.

Imagine a colorful picture being created with different words.

✍️ Urdu Poetry

غالب ہم بھی ہوں گے کبھی، تم کو خبر نہ ہوگی

Ghalib hum bhi honge kabhi, tum ko khabar na hogi

Ghalib, we too shall be, you will remain unaware.

Mirza Ghalib, Unverified

* Poetry attribution is AI-generated and may require verification.

🗣️ Urdu Proverb

خوابوں میں جو دیکھے وہی سچ ہوتا ہے

Khwabon mein jo dekhe wahi sach hota hai

What one sees in dreams becomes reality.

📖 Etymology

Origin: Latin "figurativus" — metaphorical

First known use: 15th century

The term emerged in the late Middle Ages, influenced by Latin sensibilities regarding metaphorical language.