Figurative Language: Types, Examples, and How to Use It

You’ve probably heard of figurative language before, but what exactly is it and how does it work? The answer: figurative language is a literary device that authors use to evoke images and feelings that dive into more abstract concepts and implied meanings than what they can express using literal language — expressing emotions, ideas, and perspectives more creatively. 

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at this writing technique by breaking down some common types of figurative language, using examples from literature. We’ll also give some advice on how to apply it to your own writing to make it truly sing. 

Let’s dive in.

What is figurative language?

Figurative language is any descriptive word, phrase, or expression that conveys meaning beyond its literal definition. It’s primarily used in fiction and creative writing, and attempts to add depth, sensory connection, or artistic flair to the text.

Saying that a text will “truly sing” or inviting the reader to “dive in,” for instance — as we’ve done above — are both examples of figurative language. Texts can’t actually sing, and readers can’t literally dive into one, but each of these expressions creates an image that gets the idea across. A text that “sings” feels alive and captures the reader’s attention, whereas “diving” into a text suggests  you’re going to immerse yourself in it completely.

Besides expressions like these, there are many other kinds of figurative language: metaphors, similes, allusions, personification, and so on. We’ll take a closer look at these in a minute — but first, let’s look at why understanding and mastering figurative language is so important. 

Why should you use figurative language? 

Figurative language helps authors express themselves in more creative ways, as well as capture feelings and ideas that are otherwise hard to describe — like love, regret, the passing of time, and what it means to be free, to name just a few. 

Figurative language also often has the effect of making a text more interesting and poetic. By using images and ideas that appeal to reader’s senses, it elevates writing from purely factual to genuinely compelling. Rather than saying exactly what something is, what happened, or how the character feels, figurative language uses comparisons, exaggerations, or symbolism to get the point across — closely linking it to the classic storytelling technique “show, don’t tell.” 

Want to learn more about showing, not telling? Check out this course:

So, whether it’s for a poem, a novel, or even a speech, using figurative language can help you engage your audience's imagination as well as their logic, making it one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s toolbox. 

So, what might figurative language look like?

7 common types of figurative language

Figurative language comes in many forms, each serving its own purpose in writing. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common types: 

Metaphor

A metaphor says that one thing is another, suggesting they are alike in some way. This comparison isn't literal, but helps convey a deeper meaning or insight. It can either be a straightforward 1:1 comparison, or an extended metaphor, which draws more elaborate parallels between two or more concepts.

⏰ Example: “Time is a thief.”

In this metaphor, time doesn’t literally come into your house and steal from you. Rather, it is compared to a thief to express how it takes away moments or opportunities when we’re not paying attention. The metaphor adds a sense of urgency and loss to the idea of time. 

To extend the metaphor, you’d simply continue the comparison: “Time is a thief. It catches you off your guard, siphons away opportunities bit by bit, and offers no returns.” 

Simile

A simile, like a metaphor, also compares two things — but a simile uses words such as “like” or “as” to highlight the similarities. This type of figurative language is often used to make descriptions more relatable or vivid.

☀️ Example: “Her smile was as bright as the sun.”

This simile compares the brightness of a smile to the sun, emphasizing how radiant and joyful the smile is. It would obviously be impossible for a grin to actually be as bright as the sun (we’d all burn to a crisp if that were true), but this comparison illustrates the power of its positive emotional resonance.

Personification

Personification gives human characteristics to non-human objects, animals, or abstract concepts. This helps bring inanimate things to life, giving them agency and story-driving potential. By using this technique, authors can explore concepts that go beyond real world logic, but which still hold significance to the human experience.

🤖 Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”

Here, the wind is given the human ability to whisper. This suggests a quiet, soft movement that creates an intimate atmosphere, perhaps even adding a hint of magic to the narrative.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is an exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. It's often used to highlight something important or to create a strong emotional response in the reader, drawing attention to the disproportionate description.

🐴 Example: “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

This over-the-top statement emphasizes extreme hunger, though it’s clearly not meant to imply that horse is on the menu!

Allusion

An allusion is a reference to another work of literature, a historical event, or a well-known figure or idea. It adds layers of meaning by drawing connections between the current text and something the reader is already familiar with.

🎭 Example: “He was a real Romeo with the ladies.”

Obviously referring to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this allusion instantly conveys that the person is a charmer, much like the passionate and romantic Romeo Montague.

Idiom

An idiom is a set phrase or expression whose meaning is often specific to a culture or language, and can be puzzling if taken literally (especially for non-native speakers).

🐈 Example: “It’s raining cats and dogs.”

This idiom is used to describe heavy rain. While it doesn’t mean animals are actually falling from the sky, it effectively conveys the intensity of the weather.

Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms are paired together.

❄️ Example: “Deafening silence.”

Here, “deafening” and “silence” are opposites, but when combined, they evoke the profound, almost suffocating stillness of a moment.

These are just a few of the many types of figurative language that can add depth to your writing. 

Check out this post on 100 literary devices for more examples.

In the next section, we’ll take an in-depth look at how 3 different authors have applied figurative language in some of their most famous works. 

Examples of figurative language in literature

Figurative language is all around us — and it’s a huge part of some of the most beloved stories in the canon. Let’s see what that might look like in context. 

1. Metaphor in As You Like It by Shakespeare

One of the most prolific writers of all time, Shakespeare was a master of figurative language. In that vein, what better place to start than with his play As You Like It and this famous line: 

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”

With this metaphor, Shakespeare is trying to capture a universal human experience: that we all perform our expected roles in front of each other. Taken further, he may even be suggesting that we are preordained to fulfill our destinies, just like actors must stick to their scripts onstage.

Instead of outright saying “it doesn’t matter what we do because our fate is already decided,” Shakespeare uses this figurative language to add layers to his writing — which in turn inspires the reader (or audience member) to think deeply about what it truly means. They can interpret the metaphor in many different ways, whereas more literal writing limits the scope of possibility.

2. Personification in Animal Farm by George Orwell

Figurative language can be used in single sentences when you want to add a bit of flair. However, some of the most effective use of figurative language happens when authors gradually build more complex images and motifs throughout their story to capture a theme. 

In Animal Farm, for instance, George Orwell uses personification — letting farm animals have greater sentience and the ability to speak — throughout the entire novel. This personification helps convey Orwell’s social and political critiques of totalitarianism and the corruptive effect of power. The farm animals represent real-life political figures, making the tone of the novel both deeply ironic and sharply critical, while also keeping the story accessible and entertaining to the reader.

3. Hyperbole in The Vegetarian by Han Kang

In The Vegetarian, author Han Kang similarly uses many different forms of figurative language to explore the emotional and psychological extremes of her characters — especially the protagonist, Yeong-hye, who has decided to stop eating meat. 

As the novel progresses, Yeong-hye’s character arc becomes increasingly exaggerated and the novel begins to rely more and more on hyperbolic imagery to convey her state of mind. Yeong-hye’s refusal to eat meat, which she sees as an act of personal liberation, is met with the disapproval of her family and society.  

Her avoidance reaches a point where she becomes obsessed with the purity of her food — refusing even to eat things that are distantly linked to human cruelty, such as honey, and eventually longing to become a plant herself. Throughout the novel, Kang uses flower imagery to indicate Yeong-hye gradual move towards becoming plant-like — supporting the hyperbolic development of her psychological descent. Yeong-hye’s inner turmoil, in turn, is used to emphasize the absurdity and violence of patriarchal and societal expectations.

5 tips for using figurative language

Now that we have explored various types and examples of figurative language, here are some practical tips to help you use it effectively.

1. Start simple and gradually build complexity

Figurative language is a great way to elevate your prose. Yet too much of a good thing has a tendency to spoil the soup (did you catch that metaphor?), turning your writing into pretentious purple prose rather than something emotionally resonant.

To avoid this, it’s sufficient to compare the character to one thing (like a summer’s day) and gradually extend the metaphor from there, using slightly different variations of the same imagery (related to the idea of summer, or the seasons, for instance). You can build in complexity as you go along, but often the most effective use of figurative language captures an abstract idea in a simple, accessible way. 

Tip: Avoid adding too many threads that aren’t closely related to each other, as this can draw attention from your core message (plus it’s just really overwrought):

❌ "Her heart was a fragile porcelain teacup, teetering precariously on the edge of an emotional precipice, surrounded by a swirling whirlwind of forgotten dreams, regrets, and unspoken wishes, like a thousand stars colliding in an eternal cosmic dance of shattered hopes."

Instead, favor a light touch when it comes to extended metaphors, and make sure each comparison builds on the last one:

✅ "Her heart was a fragile porcelain teacup, teetering on the edge of a table. At the slightest push, it could tumble and shatter on the tile below."

2. Balance figurative language with clarity

While figurative language is a powerful tool, not everything needs to be expressed this way. Instead, strive for a balance between figurative language and straightforward descriptions.  

Doing this ensures that your language enhances the story without baffling or alienating your audience. It importantly also creates a more dynamic reading experience, slowing things down in sections where you want the reader to pay attention and going quickly through sections that are more informational and transitional.

Tip: When using figurative language, ask yourself whether this is a scene you want to emphasize — and if so, how. Is the message clear? If it distracts the reader from important information, consider using more literal language.

3. Use figurative language to mirror the theme

Figurative language can deepen the emotional resonance of your writing by connecting to broader themes. For instance, by linking a character’s emotional journey to a well-known symbol, you can make their internal struggles feel more significant and universal.

Conversely, if your figurative language is not anchored in the story, it may start to feel like unnecessary ornamentation — weighing your writing down.

Tip: Choose a symbol, metaphor, or any other type of figurative language that reflects your character or story’s emotional arc.

For instance, in a story about loss, you might use a wilting flower to represent a character’s grief. As this character heals, the flower might bloom again, symbolizing their recovery. This can add layers of meaning to both the emotion and the symbolism, helping you show — not tell — your character’s growth.

4. Avoid clichéd figurative language

As with any kind of writing, you want your prose (or poetry) to feel fresh and uniquely yours. Figurative language is a great way to achieve this, as you can describe age-old experiences in completely new ways, painting them in a different light.

To that end, don’t rely on overused and clichéd expressions — e.g., things like “she was as sweet as candy” or “he had a heart of gold.” Instead, strive for originality by coming up with new comparisons or ways to describe emotions.

Tip: Think about the sensory experiences that best convey the emotion or idea at hand. Steer clear of those clichés:

❌ “She was as busy as a bee.” 

And instead think more deeply about how to be accurate yet original:

✅ “Her fingers flew over the keyboard, her mind a whirlwind, as the email notification icon blazed red.”

Note how the second version relies more on showing than telling, evoking the feeling of business rather than stating facts, making it a more engaging reading experience.

5. Match figurative language to tone

Figurative language is most effective when it fits seamlessly into your writing, matching tone and mood across the board. 

So this might sound obvious, but if you’re writing a tragic scene, you don’t want to use a humorous simile that breaks the mood and throws the reader out of the story. Likewise, you don’t want to use a somber metaphor when you’re trying to write a lighthearted scene.

Tip: Plot out the emotional arc of your story and the intended impact of key scenes, then adapt your figurative language accordingly. Ask yourself if the figurative language matches how the narrator would really perceive their environment and the feeling you want your readers to have.

Want help polishing your figurative language? Consider hiring a professional copy editor: 

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Figurative language is an absolutely vital part of creative writing. Instead of painting by numbers, it helps authors draw a world from scratch, freehanding the outline and mixing together a whole new color palette. With these types, tips, and examples of figurative language in your arsenal, we hope you enjoy mixing up your own!