Figurative Language
Elementary School
Definition
Language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to create an effect, including devices such as metaphor, simile, and personification. For instance, "the wind whispered" is figurative because wind cannot truly whisper. It adds depth, emotion, and imagery to writing.
Worked examples
"The classroom was a zoo during lunch."
This metaphor compares the classroom to a zoo without using 'like' or 'as' to show chaos.
"Time crawled as we waited for the bell."
Personification gives time the human action of crawling to emphasize how slowly it passed.
"Her smile was as bright as the sun."
This simile uses 'as' to compare her smile to the sun, creating a vivid image of warmth and joy.
Common mistakes
- "It's raining cats and dogs" is a metaphor → "It's raining cats and dogs" is an idiom, not a metaphor Idioms are fixed phrases with meanings unrelated to the literal words; metaphors make direct comparisons.
- Any descriptive language counts as figurative language → Figurative language must go beyond literal meaning "The tall tree" is just descriptive; "The tree reached for the sky" is figurative (personification).
- "He ran like the wind" is literal because people can run fast → "He ran like the wind" is figurative (simile) He's not actually transforming into wind—the comparison to wind's speed makes it figurative.
Where you'll use it next
You'll identify and analyze figurative language when studying poetry, novels, and speeches, and you'll use it in your own creative and persuasive writing to make descriptions more vivid and arguments more compelling.
See also
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026