word for word
Americanadverb
-
in exactly the same words; verbatim.
-
one word at a time, without regard for the sense of the whole.
She translated the book word for word.
Other Word Forms
- word-for-word adjective
Etymology
Origin of word for word
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400
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.
He said the same thing almost word for word to an “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent who took the news completely — almost dismissively? — in stride.
From Los Angeles Times
Some reports included the entire Catholic ritual, word for word; “it is so strange that what ever I may do finds its way to the newspapers …,” Maggie mused.
From Literature
She told the High Court she knew "100%" that other stories had been obtained through hacking because they matched her voicemails "word for word".
From BBC
Is she reading from one of the justice center pamphlets, because I swear I think one of them says this word for word.
From Literature
That’s almost—word for word—what he said roughly 18 months ago.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
