1. in a way that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation

Examples

• When she said her heart was broken, she meant it figuratively, not literally.
• The team was figuratively on fire during the championship game.
• He figuratively threw in the towel after failing the test three times.
• The city was figuratively drowning in debt.
• She figuratively walked on air after getting the promotion.
• The news hit him like a ton of bricks, figuratively speaking.