- although a common word, the meaning of the term “literally” has expanded recently to now also include the meaning of figuratively. By this logic, the word has actually lost the purpose of its original meaning and is now, for all intents and purposes, a filler word. Note that in the citation and source, this use of the term “literally” is one of the conflicts of the episode. However, more official sources have expanded their own definitions lately to accommodate the widening of the term. Used now as an intensifier.
literally
other word formation type widening; adverb
“in literal terms” or figuratively
Etymology : original term existed since 1530s according to Etymonline
Source : “I could literally kill you right now” – Robin in How I Met Your Mother, aired Nov 12, 2007
Last modified: 5 December 2013