Simile
noun /ˈsɪmɪli/ — A comparison using 'like' or 'as' — saying one thing is similar to another to reveal both.
Definition
A figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as,' creating meaning by illuminating one thing through the lens of another.
Beyond the definition
A perfect simile creates a small shock of recognition — you didn't know the two things belonged together until the sentence made them, and now you can't unknow it. The best ones feel discovered, not invented.
Origin & history
From Latin similis — similar, like. The device of similarity — making two unlike things resemble each other through the word 'like' or 'as'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
'Her voice is like music' is a simile; 'Her voice is music' is a metaphor — a bolder claim.
He thought in similes — every new experience arrived filtered through something he already knew.
The simile invites comparison; the metaphor makes it. Both create new seeing.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Simile” when the meaning fits your context: A figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as,' creating meaning by illuminating one thing through the lens of another.
Synonyms
comparison, analogy, likeness, parallel
Antonyms
literal statement, direct description
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Stone Griffin Statue
A weathered, stone griffin sculpture with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle stands guard over a small, quiet garden bridge.
A simile compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'. The griffin, by being literally composed of two different animal forms, acts as a visual simile: it is 'like' a lion in body and 'as' an eagle in wings, using the lens of one animal to illuminate the character of the other.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Simile" mean?
Simile is noun meaning: A comparison using 'like' or 'as' — saying one thing is similar to another to reveal both.. A figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as,' creating meaning by illuminating one thing through the lens of another.
Where does the word "Simile" come from?
From Latin similis — similar, like. The device of similarity — making two unlike things resemble each other through the word 'like' or 'as'.