Sometimes we feel a strong wish for something. It might be a place, a person, or a dream. This feeling is called yearning. It is more than just wanting. It means really hoping for something, deep in your heart.
Writers often use similes to show this feeling. A simile compares one thing to another using “like” or “as.” These comparisons help us picture how deep or strong the feeling is. In this article, we will learn about similes that show yearning in simple ways. These phrases can help you say what you feel more clearly. Let’s explore some now.
Similes for Yearning
1. As deep as the ocean
Meaning: A very strong feeling inside
Give an Instance: She missed her grandma as deep as the ocean. / He wanted to go home as deep as the ocean.
Substitute Meaning: So big you can’t measure it / Very strong feeling
2. As endless as the sky
Meaning: A feeling that never stops
Give an Instance: His hope felt as endless as the sky. / Her wish to see her dad again was as endless as the sky.
Substitute Meaning: Always there / Never-ending
3. As strong as a magnet
Meaning: A powerful pull toward something
Give an Instance: She felt as strong as a magnet to her old home. / His heart was pulled to the beach as strong as a magnet.
Substitute Meaning: Can’t stay away / Feels pulled in
4. As steady as a heartbeat
Meaning: Always feeling the same longing
Give an Instance: His wish to see his dog again was as steady as a heartbeat. / Her dream stayed with her as steady as a heartbeat.
Substitute Meaning: Always there / Never goes away
5. As quiet as a whisper
Meaning: A soft, quiet longing
Give an Instance: Her wish was as quiet as a whisper in the night. / He missed his old school as quiet as a whisper.
Substitute Meaning: Soft and still / Gentle feeling
6. As slow as a rainy day
Meaning: Time feels slow when you are missing something
Give an Instance: The wait for his mom felt as slow as a rainy day. / Her longing made each day feel as slow as a rainy day.
Substitute Meaning: Dragging / Hard to wait
7. As sharp as a thorn
Meaning: A painful kind of wanting
Give an Instance: Missing his dad felt as sharp as a thorn. / Her wish for her old house hurt as sharp as a thorn.
Substitute Meaning: Hurts inside / Painful memory
8. As soft as a cloud
Meaning: A gentle kind of hope
Give an Instance: Her dream felt as soft as a cloud. / His wish floated as soft as a cloud.
Substitute Meaning: Gentle / Calm feeling
9. As far as the stars
Meaning: Wanting something far away
Give an Instance: Her wish to visit her cousins felt as far as the stars. / His dream seemed as far as the stars.
Substitute Meaning: Distant / Hard to reach
10. As heavy as a backpack
Meaning: A strong feeling that weighs on you
Give an Instance: His wish to be home was as heavy as a backpack. / Her heart felt as heavy as a backpack full of books.
Substitute Meaning: Hard to carry / Big inside feeling
11. As bright as the moon
Meaning: A strong wish that shines inside
Give an Instance: Her dream was as bright as the moon. / His hope glowed as bright as the moon.
Substitute Meaning: Clear and strong / Always shining
12. As cold as winter
Meaning: Feeling lonely or empty inside
Give an Instance: The house felt as cold as winter without her dog. / His heart felt as cold as winter missing his brother.
Substitute Meaning: Empty inside / Sad and alone
13. As quiet as falling snow
Meaning: A soft, silent longing
Give an Instance: Her hope stayed as quiet as falling snow. / He waited as quiet as falling snow.
Substitute Meaning: Still and silent / Peaceful but strong
14. As steady as the sun
Meaning: A wish that never stops
Give an Instance: His dream stayed as steady as the sun. / Her hope for change was as steady as the sun.
Substitute Meaning: Always there / Never leaves
15. As far away as a dream
Meaning: A wish that feels out of reach
Give an Instance: Her dream felt as far away as a dream. / He missed his grandma like a dream he couldn’t reach.
Substitute Meaning: Hard to get / Feels far
16. As warm as a hug
Meaning: A kind feeling that gives comfort
Give an Instance: Her hope felt as warm as a hug. / Missing his friend felt as warm as a hug.
Substitute Meaning: Loving / Brings peace
17. As small as a seed
Meaning: A little wish that can grow
Give an Instance: Her hope was as small as a seed. / His dream was just a seed in his heart.
Substitute Meaning: Tiny start / Can grow bigger
18. As high as a kite
Meaning: A big dream flying in the sky
Give an Instance: His wish to fly was as high as a kite. / Her hopes soared as high as a kite.
Substitute Meaning: Big goal / Reaching high
19. As wide as a smile
Meaning: A happy wish that fills your heart
Give an Instance: Her hope was as wide as a smile. / He missed the fun times with a wish as wide as a smile.
Substitute Meaning: Full of joy / Feels good
20. As slow as a snail
Meaning: Waiting feels slow and hard
Give an Instance: The days without her dad felt as slow as a snail. / His wish made each hour crawl like a snail.
Substitute Meaning: Very slow / Hard to wait
21. As high as the clouds
Meaning: A wish that feels big and dreamy
Give an Instance: Her dream to travel was as high as the clouds. / He felt a longing as high as the clouds.
Substitute Meaning: Dreamy / Far and big
22. As bright as the morning sun
Meaning: A hopeful and fresh wish
Give an Instance: His hope felt as bright as the morning sun. / Her longing lit up her day like the morning sun.
Substitute Meaning: Cheerful wish / New hope
23. As dry as a desert
Meaning: Feeling empty and needing something
Give an Instance: The room felt as dry as a desert without her laugh. / He missed his family so much it felt dry as a desert.
Substitute Meaning: Empty / Lacking something
24. As quiet as the moon
Meaning: A silent, lonely kind of yearning
Give an Instance: Her wish was as quiet as the moon in the sky. / His heart felt quiet as the moon when he missed home.
Substitute Meaning: Still and calm / Lonely feeling
25. As soft as a feather
Meaning: A gentle and tender wish
Give an Instance: Her wish felt as soft as a feather landing. / His hope moved through him as soft as a feather.
Substitute Meaning: Gentle / Light
26. As far as a faraway land
Meaning: Something wanted but distant
Give an Instance: Her dream was as far as a faraway land. / He missed his cousin who lived in a place as far as a faraway land.
Substitute Meaning: Hard to reach / Far off
27. As deep as a canyon
Meaning: A powerful and strong longing
Give an Instance: Her missing felt as deep as a canyon. / His hope was as deep as a canyon in his heart.
Substitute Meaning: Strong and big / Deep inside
28. As soft as a lullaby
Meaning: A gentle, sweet kind of yearning
Give an Instance: Her wish felt as soft as a lullaby before sleep. / His dream played like a lullaby in his heart.
Substitute Meaning: Calm and sweet / Quiet hope
29. As long as a summer day
Meaning: Feeling like the wait never ends
Give an Instance: Waiting felt as long as a summer day. / Her wish made the school day feel as long as a summer day.
Substitute Meaning: Slow and long / Hard to wait
30. As strong as a rope
Meaning: A wish that holds on tight
Give an Instance: His hope held on as strong as a rope. / She missed her pet as strong as a rope pulling her.
Substitute Meaning: Won’t let go / Grabs your heart
31. As still as a pond
Meaning: A quiet feeling that doesn’t move
Give an Instance: Her hope sat in her heart as still as a pond. / His dream waited as still as a pond in fall.
Substitute Meaning: Calm and deep / Not going away
32. As tight as a knot
Meaning: A feeling stuck inside
Give an Instance: His heart felt as tight as a knot missing his friend. / Her longing made her stomach twist like a knot.
Substitute Meaning: Tied up feeling / Tense inside
33. As wide as the world
Meaning: A very big wish
Give an Instance: Her wish felt as wide as the world. / He missed his mom with a feeling as wide as the world.
Substitute Meaning: Huge / Very deep feeling
34. As fast as a racing car
Meaning: A strong, rushing feeling
Give an Instance: His heart raced with longing as fast as a racing car. / Her wish zoomed in her mind like a racing car.
Substitute Meaning: Fast and loud / Can’t slow down
35. As bright as a candle
Meaning: A small but strong hope
Give an Instance: Her wish burned as bright as a candle in the dark. / His dream glowed as bright as a candle.
Substitute Meaning: Small light / Soft hope
36. As clear as glass
Meaning: A feeling that is easy to see or understand
Give an Instance: Her hope was as clear as glass. / His dream showed in his eyes as clear as glass.
Substitute Meaning: Easy to see / Open feeling
37. As soft as a whispering wind
Meaning: A gentle, moving wish
Give an Instance: Her wish floated as soft as a whispering wind. / His heart called out like a whispering wind.
Substitute Meaning: Quiet but real / Softly felt
38. As lonely as a single cloud
Meaning: A sad, empty kind of yearning
Give an Instance: He felt as lonely as a single cloud in the sky. / Her heart floated alone like a single cloud.
Substitute Meaning: Alone / Quiet and sad
39. As long as a line
Meaning: Waiting for something for a long time
Give an Instance: Her dream took as long as a line at the fair. / He missed his friend for as long as a line at lunch.
Substitute Meaning: Slow wait / Endless feeling
40. As quiet as a secret
Meaning: A hidden, silent longing
Give an Instance: Her wish was as quiet as a secret. / He held his dream as quiet as a secret inside.
Substitute Meaning: Hidden / Not shared
41. As far as the moon
Meaning: Something wanted that’s very far away
Give an Instance: His dream felt as far as the moon. / She missed her aunt who lived as far as the moon.
Substitute Meaning: Out of reach / Very far
42. As soft as a baby’s blanket
Meaning: A warm, comforting hope
Give an Instance: Her dream felt as soft as a baby’s blanket. / He wrapped his hope like a baby’s blanket.
Substitute Meaning: Warm and sweet / Safe feeling
43. As high as a balloon
Meaning: A wish that floats above everything
Give an Instance: Her hope rose as high as a balloon. / He dreamed as high as a balloon in the sky.
Substitute Meaning: Light and dreamy / Uplifting
44. As still as a statue
Meaning: A frozen, unmoving wish
Give an Instance: Her wish stood as still as a statue. / He waited for the answer as still as a statue.
Substitute Meaning: Frozen / Quiet and waiting
45. As deep as a well
Meaning: A strong feeling buried inside
Give an Instance: His hope was as deep as a well. / Her longing came from a place as deep as a well.
Substitute Meaning: Deep inside / Hard to measure
Find the “Similes for Yearning”
Reading Passage
It was Valentine’s Day at Lincoln Elementary, and the classroom was full of red hearts and paper flowers. Emma sat by the window, thinking about her best friend, Lily, who had moved to another state last month. Her heart felt as deep as the ocean. Every card handed out reminded her of the ones they used to make together.
During art class, Emma drew a picture that showed two girls holding hands under a starry sky. Her longing for Lily was as endless as the sky. She looked out the window again—the clouds floated as soft as a feather, and she wished they could carry her to Lily’s house.
At lunch, she barely touched her sandwich. The wait to see her friend again felt as long as a line. When her teacher announced a pen pal project, Emma’s heart lit up as bright as a candle. She hoped Lily might join from her new school. Her wish felt as strong as a rope, pulling on her every thought.
That night, Emma wrote her first letter. She poured her feelings into it, each word soft as a lullaby. Her hope glowed as bright as the moon while she imagined Lily reading it. As she sealed the envelope, her heart was as quiet as a whisper, holding tight to a big, far-away dream that was as far as the moon.
Directions for Students
Read the story again. Find and underline or list all the similes for yearning used in the passage.
Answer Key
- As deep as the ocean
- As endless as the sky
- As soft as a feather
- As long as a line
- As bright as a candle
- As strong as a rope
- As soft as a lullaby
- As bright as the moon
- As quiet as a whisper
- As far as the moon
Conclusion
Similes for yearning help us show how much someone wants or misses something. They make writing feel more real and full of emotion. By comparing feelings to things like the ocean, a candle, or the moon, we understand the wish in a clear and simple way.
These similes are easy to use and can make your writing stronger. They help you share your heart in a way others can feel too. Try using them when you write about hopes, dreams, or missing someone special.
