depict
American
verb
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to represent by or as by drawing, sculpture, painting, etc; delineate; portray
-
to represent in words; describe
Synonym Usage
Depict, portray, sketch imply a representation of an object or scene by colors or lines, or by words. Depict emphasizes vividness of detail: to depict the confusion of departure. Portray emphasizes faithful representation: We could not portray the anguish of the exiles. Sketch suggests the drawing of the outlines of the most prominent features or details, often in a preparatory way: to sketch the plans for a community development.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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depictsimple
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depictssimple
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have depictedperfect
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has depictedperfect
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am depictingprogressive
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are depictingprogressive
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is depictingprogressive
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have been depictingperfect progressive
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has been depictingperfect progressive
Past
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depictedsimple
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had depictedperfect
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was depictingprogressive
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were depictingprogressive
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had been depictingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of depict
First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin dēpictus (past participle of dēpingere ), equivalent to dē- de- + pic- past participle stem of pingere “to paint” ( see paint) + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
When you depict something, you draw a picture of it, describe it, or show what it looks like. So grab a crayon, a paint brush, or even an Etch-A-Sketch and start depicting. From the Latin depictus, meaning “to portray, paint, sketch, describe,” depict is a way to communicate what you see. To explain to an alien what a banana is, you can either depict it with drawings, describe it in words, or both. But be careful. Writes author Joyce Maynard, "The painter who feels obligated to depict his subjects as uniformly beautiful or handsome and without flaws will fall short of making art."
Vocabulary lists containing depict
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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ACT Vocabulary List
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STAAR English I: The Language of the Test 1
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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.
See Examples For:
So, too, are the movies that depict journalism’s procedures and how arduous and exhausting they are.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
Standing on a concrete pedestal, the statue will depict the pontiff with open arms, wearing his long papal robe and a crucifix around his neck.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
At Mennour, Dhewadi Hadjab captures the extremes of the body in motion through his highly realistic paintings that depict amateur dancers in mind-bending contortions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
In this view, fiction should not only reflect present flaws but also depict people and societies worth becoming.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Or was it simply the fashion of artists to depict African Americans as foreign and exotic?
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
The new A24 crime thriller depicts the show's host, NBC journalist Chris Hansen, carrying out sting operations on would-be predators.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
It depicts how rising borrowing costs can weigh more heavily on shares of smaller companies.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
The Copernicus Ocean State Report depicts profound changes across the world's seas, from record-breaking heatwaves in the Mediterranean and Black seas to shifts in marine ecosystems and increasingly acidic waters.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
Located in the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua, Italy, the sumptuously painted, illusionistic chamber depicts the era’s civic society and figures from classical antiquity and myth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
Because the carving depicts a man instead of an event, the date is generally thought to be the dead man’s name.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
The Period-Piece Pixie, as depicted on-screen, is too evolved for the elaborate grooming rituals of her time—no stays, no time-consumingly arranged ringlets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
The species was named Vasuki indicus in honor of Vasuki, the mythical serpent associated with the Hindu deity Shiva, who is traditionally depicted with the snake wrapped around his neck.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
Robert Pattinson, who welcomed his first child with Suki Waterhouse in March 2024, says that as a parent, the events depicted in his new film are "terrifying"
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
Of course “The Social Reckoning” arrives too late to feel revolutionary; it would be late even if it depicted something that happened last week.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
My mind was feverishly trying to compare American society, the way Andre depicted it, with that of South Africa.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
Since people don’t know what happened to Jimmy Hoffa, did you have any concerns that depicting his murder might upset people?
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
Permission was also sought to play music along parts of the designated route lined with illuminated features depicting scenes from the Harry Potter franchise.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
London's sold-out Bayeux Tapestry exhibition will open Thursday to a British public gripped by "mania" as the medieval artwork depicting the Norman conquest of England goes on display outside France for the first time.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
One of the stolen artworks is a vertical oil painting on canvas dating back to around 1910 depicting French actress Gabrielle Colonna-Romano.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
To create a handsome wall hanging depicting our last hours?
From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
