Metaphorical: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when describing something in a way that isn't literal, using one concept to describe another to illustrate a point vividly.

• Her smile is a bright sunshine.
• The world is a stage.

Appropriate for general use when indicating something that goes beyond the literal meaning to create an imaginative or vivid impression. It can include metaphor, simile, and other figures of speech.

• I've told you a million times not to exaggerate.
• The city was a sea of lights.

Best suited for situations where something stands for or represents something else, often an abstract concept.

• The dove is symbolic of peace.
• Red roses are often seen as symbolic of love.

Recommended for describing a narrative or a story that has a hidden meaning or lesson, often moral, political or spiritual.

• 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell is an allegorical novel.
• The Pilgrim's Progress is an allegorical tale about a Christian's journey to salvation.

Used when something is expressed in terms of another to imply a resemblance for a better understanding, often found in literature and everyday language to highlight hidden similarities.

• She has a heart of stone
• The world is a stage

Utilized to represent ideas or qualities through symbols, often in the arts, literature, and rituals to convey deeper meanings beyond the literal sense.

• The dove is symbolic of peace
• Wearing black clothes is symbolic of mourning

Describes something that stands for or depicts something else, often used in discussions about examples or delegates that embody the qualities of a larger group or concept.

• This painting is representative of the artist's early work
• He is a representative of our company

Applied in a non-literal way, often involving figures of speech like similes and metaphors; used broadly in creative writing and speech to convey meanings different from the literal interpretation.

• I'm feeling under the weather
• His words cut deeper than a knife