metaphorical
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of metaphorical
First recorded in 1560–70; metaphor ( def. ) + -ical ( def. )
Explanation
Something is metaphorical when you use it to stand for, or symbolize, another thing. For example, a dark sky in a poem might be a metaphorical representation of sadness. You'll find yourself using the adjective metaphorical all the time if you take a poetry class; poems are usually full of metaphors. People use metaphorical language in everyday speech too, like when you say something like, "My brain is foggy today." Metaphorical comes from the Greek word meaning "a transfer," metaphora, which is itself made up of meta, "over," and pherein, "to carry."
Vocabulary lists containing metaphorical
Reading: Literature - High School
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Imagery, Figures of Speech, and Tone
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Anything But Typical
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His two metaphorical ships carry a heavy cargo of intellectual freight.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
After taking in the exhibit, attendees can draw their own conclusions about the land’s role as a “geographical and metaphorical space of promise, struggle, and belonging.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
According to the researchers, this means the artistry behind piano tone is not merely metaphorical or subjective.
From Science Daily • May 28, 2026
All of this is rain on Warsh’s metaphorical parade ahead of his White House swearing in ceremony on Friday.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
If so, the writing could not be fundamentally pictographic or metaphorical; rather, most of the symbols must stand for letters or syllables.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
