Concrete Adjectives

What Is the Definition of a Concrete Adjective?

To define a concrete adjective, you have to know what an adjective is! Here's the definition:

As a reminder, here are some examples of adjectives:

• happy

• bright

• incredible

• toasty

• well-informed

Concrete Words

You've got the adjective half of concrete adjectives down. Now for the concrete half. What does concrete mean in this context?

Tangible in this sense means something that can be experienced with the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. To put it simply, concrete words refer to things that you can see, hear, touch, smell, or taste.

Concrete words can be nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs. Here are some examples:

If you're looking at a word and wondering whether it's a concrete word, ask yourself, "Does this word refer to something real and tangible?" If it does, it's a concrete word!

Concrete Adjectives

You have the definitions of adjectives and concrete words now. Put these together, and you've got the definition of a concrete adjective!

Concrete adjectives can modify both concrete nouns and non-concrete nouns. They describe nouns and noun phrases by referencing what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted. Here are some examples of concrete adjectives referring to each of the five senses.

These adjectives could describe nouns either literally or figuratively. For example, a sheet of glass can be literally transparent, meaning that you can see through it; a person's speech can also be figuratively transparent, meaning that the person is telling the truth without hiding information. You'll see specific examples of this later!

A List of Concrete Adjectives

The examples above give a general impression of concrete adjectives in their different forms. This longer list shows a greater variety of concrete adjectives.

• dark

• fizzy

• silent

• liquid

• rough

• cheesy

• cold

• stinky

• breakable

• heavy

• illuminated

• salty

• brilliant

• crusty

To recognize a concrete adjective: look at an adjective and ask, "Does this adjective connect to something tangible and real?" If it does, it's a concrete adjective!

Opposite of a Concrete Adjective

What if an adjective doesn't connect to something tangible and real? The antonym of a concrete adjective is an abstract adjective.

Concrete vs. Abstract Adjectives

In general, abstract adjectives are less specific than concrete adjectives. They're also usually harder to grasp because they don't connect to tangible objects. Here are some examples of abstract adjectives:

• good

• dangerous

• guilty

• wrong

• uncomfortable

• delicious

• powerful

• confusing

• gross

• weak

These adjectives refer to concepts that are understandable, but not tangible. They don't connect to something specific that you could see, hear, touch, smell, or taste.

Examples of Concrete Adjectives

So, what differences do concrete adjectives make in sentences? Concrete adjectives can make a description more specific and easier to imagine.

In this example, a concrete adjective describes a noun literally.

The concrete adjectives give a literal description of the apple. The apple is literally crisp and juicy. Concrete adjectives can also describe something figuratively. Take a look at this example:

Concrete adjectives aren't always better than abstract adjectives, but they are a wonderful tool for description. The next time you write, replace some of your abstract adjectives with synonyms that are more concrete. Make a note of how it changes your descriptions.

What Is the Purpose of Concrete Adjectives in Writing?

You've seen some examples of concrete adjectives in isolated sentences. But what purpose do concrete adjectives serve in a larger context? This example, from the poem "Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats (1819), is full of concrete adjectives.

Nightingales singing odes

This second stanza of the poem focuses on the theme of longing for nature. How do the concrete adjectives help to carry this theme? Look at these concrete adjectives: green, sunburnt, warm, blushful, beaded, purple-stained, and dim. These adjectives bring out images of the outdoors, nature, and a warm, lush forest. The use of these concrete adjectives places the reader in the forest, seeing and feeling every element.

Notice how some concrete adjectives describe nouns literally: green country, purple-stained mouth, dim forest, and beaded bubbles. These allow the reader to clearly visualize the environment. Others describe nouns figuratively: sunburnt mirth and blushful Hippocrene. These create artistic and thought-provoking descriptions for the reader to consider.

Whether for clear visualizations or poetic comparisons, concrete adjectives can be a useful addition to your description tool belt. Keep an eye out for concrete adjectives in the next passage you read, and try to figure out what the author meant to communicate with them.