Which of the following best defines a simile?

• A. A figure of speech that gives human characteristics to non-human things
• B. A figure of speech that compares two things using like or as
• C. An exaggeration for effect
• D. A reference to a well-known person or event

Answer: (B)

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using like or as. This explicit linking of two unlike things helps paint a clearer picture or understanding by drawing a direct comparison, as in “as brave as a lion.” The other options describe different figures of speech: giving human traits to non-human things is personification; exaggeration for effect is hyperbole; and a reference to a well-known person or event is allusion. Because a simile specifically uses like or as to make a comparison, it is the best definition.