Simile Definition: the comparison between two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”
Similes are a kind of figurative language that authors use to enhance imagery and key ideas in a work. They often enhance the senses of a reader to better experience the deeper meaning of the two unlike things being compared. Similes can also simplify a complicated idea. Similes are created by using the words “like” or “as” to compare two things or ideas. Similes differ from metaphors in that their comparisons are short and are not meant to be drawn-out in a symbolic way; instead, similes are meant to draw a parallel between two dissimilar ideas, which can create a deeper understanding of the subject for the reader. For example, William Wordsworth compares himself to a wandering, lonely cloud in “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” in order to highlight the freedom and isolation of escaping into the beauty of nature through his mind’s eye. As a cloud in his imagination, he can see all of the stars, the waves on the oceans, and the daffodils all at once. In this poem, Wordsworth becomes a cloud to highlight the awe and the distance of the world around him.
“The late afternoon sky bloomed in the window for a moment like the blue honey of the Mediterranean.”
“I wandered lonely as a cloud / that floats o’er vales and hills”
“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun”
Be sure to check out our article, "Figurative Language"!
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words like or as. It helps create vivid imagery by showing similarities between objects, ideas, or actions.
To identify a simile, look for comparisons that use the words like or as to link two different things. For example, "Her smile was as bright as the sun."
Examples of similes include: "As busy as a bee," "He was brave like a lion," and "The water was as cold as ice." These help students understand how similes create strong comparisons.
Similes make writing more engaging by helping readers visualize and connect with descriptions. They add color and emotion, making stories and poems more interesting for readers.
A simile compares two things using like or as, while a metaphor says one thing is another without using those words. For example, "She is like a rose" (simile) vs. "She is a rose" (metaphor).