Onomatopoeia Examples

Onomatopoeia is the figurative term for words that attempt to represent a sound. These words are used in writing and literature for effect. They are the attempt of writers to put sounds into words.

Buzz-The bee buzzed in my ear.

Boom-The boom of the fireworks scared the baby.

Meow-The cat meowed for some milk.

Bark-Bark! Bark! The dog woke me up.

Swish-The swish of the basketball through the hoop excited the crowd.

Sizzle-The sizzle of bacon on the griddle is music to my ears.

Scratch-The scratching of the tree limb on the window was spooky.

Howl-The wolf howled in the night.

Pop-The pop of the balloon echoed through the room.

Rustle-The papers rustled as they fell to the floor.

Onomatopoeia in Literature

1. In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Bells"-"How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle in the icy air of night!"

2. In Shakespeare's The Tempest-"Hark! Hark! Bow-wow. The watch dogs bark."

3. In William Butler Yeats' "Isle of Innisfree"-"I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore."