portray

American  

[pawr-trey] / pɔrˈtreɪ /

verb (used with object)

1. to make a likeness of by drawing, painting, carving, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   limn, delineate, picture

2. to depict in words; describe graphically.

   Synonyms:

   limn, delineate, picture

3. to represent dramatically, as on the stage.

   He portrayed Napoleon in the play.

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portray British  

/ pɔːˈtreɪ /

verb

1. to represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, etc; make a portrait of

2. to make a verbal picture of; depict in words

3. to play the part of (a character) in a play or film

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Related Words

See depict.

Other Word Forms

• nonportrayable adjective
• portrayable adjective
• portrayal noun
• portrayer noun
• preportray verb (used with object)
• unportrayable adjective

Etymology

Origin of portray

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English portrayen, from Middle French portraire, from Late Latin prōtrahere “to depict,” Latin: “to draw forth,” equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + trahere “to draw”

Example Sentences

And the production has a significant asset in the stage veteran Jessica Hecht, who portrays the chief teller, Colleen, a role Mr. Guirgis has wisely expanded.

From The Wall Street Journal

In “Back to the Future,” Tolkan portrayed Vice Principal Gerald Strickland, who surveyed the school’s halls with a whistle around his neck and a tardy slip burning a hole in his pocket.

From Los Angeles Times

"When AI creates fictional individuals with vitiligo and portrays them as authentic members of the community, this crosses into the territory of misinformation," said the British charity.

From Barron's

The film portrays a rural Hungary made up of a patchwork of poor villages, home especially to the country's large Roma minority.

From BBC

Getting that recognition required her to portray a chauvinist’s version of a sitcom character that was beneath her on a show about another show.

From Salon

Related Words

• characterize
• depict
• describe
• illustrate
• interpret
• paint
• render