- Definition
A simile is a way of describing something by comparing it to something else using "like" or "as," such as saying someone is "as brave as a lion.
The sentence 'The snow was like a soft, white blanket' is a simile because it uses 'like' to compare snow and a blanket.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A simile is like playing a matching game with words, where you say one thing is 'like' or 'as' another to paint a picture in someone's mind.
Ask your child: You ran so fast today. What were you as fast as?
Common mix-up: Kids might think any comparison is a simile. A simile must use the special connecting words 'like' or 'as'.
Examples
- He was as busy as a bee.
- The baby's laugh sounds like music.
- That pillow is as fluffy as a cloud.
simile is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
