Meaning & use
figurative
Using words or expressions with a meaning other than their literal one, especially to create a vivid image or comparison.
See it in a sentence
Time is money is a figurative expression, not a literal statement about currency.
The poem's figurative language compares the old man's memory to a fading photograph.
A note on using this word
Figurative language includes metaphors, similes, and idioms, and contrasts directly with literal meaning.
Words with a similar meaning
metaphoricalsymbolic
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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