Figurative language is language that means something different from the literal, dictionary meaning of the words. Instead of saying exactly what is true, a writer paints a picture or creates a feeling by comparing, exaggerating, or bending words in creative ways. When you read "the stars danced in the sky," the stars are not really dancing — that is figurative language at work. On this page you'll find a clear definition, the main types of figurative language with simple examples, worked practice, and an interactive quiz where you identify each device yourself.
What is figurative language?
Figurative language uses words in a way that goes beyond their exact, literal meaning to create an image, a comparison, or a strong feeling. The opposite is literal language, which means exactly what it says.
- Literal: The runner was very fast.
- Figurative: The runner was a lightning bolt.
Both sentences tell us the runner was fast, but the figurative one creates a vivid picture in your mind. Writers use figurative language — also called figures of speech — in poems, stories, songs, and even everyday speech to make their words more colorful, memorable, and emotional. The trick to understanding it is to ask: is this literally true, or is the writer creating a picture? If it's a picture, you've spotted figurative language.
Types of figurative language with examples
There are many types of figurative language, but seven show up again and again in school. Each one bends words in its own way — some compare, some exaggerate, some copy sounds. The table below is a quick reference: the device, what it does, and an example you can picture. Learn to recognize these seven and you can identify almost any figure of speech.
| Device | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simile | Compares two things using like or as. | She was as brave as a lion. |
| Metaphor | Says one thing is another, without like or as. | Time is a thief. |
| Personification | Gives human actions or feelings to a non-human thing. | The wind whispered through the trees. |
| Hyperbole | An obvious, extreme exaggeration for effect. | I've told you a million times! |
| Idiom | A common phrase whose meaning is not literal. | It's raining cats and dogs. |
| Onomatopoeia | A word that imitates a real sound. | The bacon sizzled and popped. |
| Alliteration | Repeats the same starting sound in nearby words. | Silly Sally sold seashells. |
Simile vs metaphor: what's the difference?
Similes and metaphors are the two types students mix up the most, because both make a comparison. The difference is one small clue: a simile uses the word like or as, while a metaphor says one thing simply is another.
- Simile: Her smile was like sunshine. (uses "like")
- Metaphor: Her smile was sunshine. (says it is)
A quick test: look for like or as. If the comparison uses one of those words, it's a simile. If it states the comparison directly, with no like or as, it's a metaphor.
Figurative language examples explained
Example 1. "The alarm clock screamed at me this morning."
Ask: is this literally true? An alarm clock can't really scream — screaming is something a person does.
Device: personification, because a human action (screaming) is given to a non-human object (the clock).
What it means: the alarm was loud and startling. Personification makes the reader feel how jarring that sound was, more than "the alarm was loud" ever could.
Example 2. "My brother eats like a horse."
Ask: is my brother really a horse? No — the sentence compares him to one.
Device: simile, because it compares two different things using the word like.
What it means: he eats a very large amount. The clue is the word like: if it had said "my brother is a horse," it would be a metaphor instead. That one word is the whole difference between the two devices.
Example 3. "I have a mountain of homework tonight."
Ask: is there an actual mountain of paper? No — that's an exaggeration.
Device: hyperbole, an extreme exaggeration used for effect. (It is also a light metaphor, since homework is called a mountain, but the exaggeration is the main point.)
What it means: there is a lot of homework. Hyperbole shows the writer's feeling — that the workload feels overwhelming — not a real amount.
Common mistakes with figurative language
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Confusing a simile with a metaphor because both make a comparison.
Check for the word 'like' or 'as'. A simile always uses one of them (brave as a lion). A metaphor states the comparison directly, with no 'like' or 'as' (he is a lion).
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Reading figurative language literally — thinking 'it's raining cats and dogs' means animals are falling from the sky.
Ask whether the words are literally true. If they can't be (cats aren't really falling), the writer is using figurative language — here, an idiom that simply means it's raining hard.
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Calling every comparison a metaphor, including personification.
Personification is more specific: it gives a HUMAN action or feeling to something non-human (the sun smiled). If a non-human thing is doing something only people or animals can do, it's personification, not a plain metaphor.
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Mixing up alliteration and onomatopoeia because both deal with sound.
Alliteration repeats the same starting sound across words (big blue balloon). Onomatopoeia is a single word that imitates a real sound (buzz, pop, splash).
Frequently asked questions
What is figurative language in simple words?
Figurative language is when words mean something more than their exact, literal meaning. Instead of describing something plainly, the writer creates a picture or feeling by comparing, exaggerating, or imitating sounds — like saying 'the stars danced' when they only twinkled.
What are the main types of figurative language?
The seven most common types taught in school are simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, idiom, onomatopoeia, and alliteration. Simile and metaphor compare, personification gives human traits to objects, hyperbole exaggerates, idioms are non-literal phrases, onomatopoeia imitates sounds, and alliteration repeats starting sounds.
What is the difference between literal and figurative language?
Literal language means exactly what it says: 'the runner was fast.' Figurative language means something beyond the words: 'the runner was a lightning bolt.' Both share the same idea, but figurative language creates a vivid image instead of a plain statement.
Is a simile a type of figurative language?
Yes. A simile is one of the most common types of figurative language. It compares two different things using the word 'like' or 'as', such as 'as busy as a bee' or 'sang like an angel'.
Why do writers use figurative language?
Writers use figurative language to make their writing more vivid, memorable, and emotional. A well-chosen simile or metaphor helps the reader picture a scene, feel a mood, or understand an idea in a fresh way that plain, literal words often can't.
How can I identify figurative language in a sentence?
Ask one question: are the words literally true? If they can't be (a wind can't whisper, a backpack can't weigh a ton), the writer is using figurative language. Then match it to a type — look for 'like/as' (simile), a direct 'is' comparison (metaphor), human actions on objects (personification), or exaggeration (hyperbole).
