WORD FOR WORD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does word for word mean? 

• WORD FOR WORD (adverb)
  The adverb WORD FOR WORD has 1 sense:

1. using exactly the same words

  Familiarity information: WORD FOR WORD used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WORD FOR WORD (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Using exactly the same words

Synonyms:

verbatim; word for word

Context example:

he repeated her remarks verbatim

 Context examples 

He was quite out of himself, and I noticed the unconscious movement of his lips as he shaped word for word as fast as she uttered them.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But the old king begged so hard, that she had no peace till she had told him all the tale, from beginning to end, word for word.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

This inventory I afterwards translated into English, and is, word for word, as follows: Imprimis: In the right coat-pocket of the great man-mountain (for so I interpret the words quinbus flestrin,) after the strictest search, we found only one great piece of coarse-cloth, large enough to be a foot-cloth for your majesty’s chief room of state.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

But because the reader may be curious to have some idea of the style and manner of expression peculiar to that people, as well as to know the article upon which I recovered my liberty, I have made a translation of the whole instrument, word for word, as near as I was able, which I here offer to the public.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)