depict

[dih-pikt]

verb (used with object)

1. to represent by or as if by painting or other visual image; portray; delineate.

   Synonyms: limn, paint, draw, reproduce

2. to represent or characterize in words; describe.

depict

/ dɪˈpɪkt /

verb

1. to represent by or as by drawing, sculpture, painting, etc; delineate; portray

2. to represent in words; describe

Other Word Forms

• depicter noun
• depictor noun
• depiction noun
• depictive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of depict¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin dēpictus (past participle of dēpingere ), equivalent to dē- de- + pic- past participle stem of pingere “to paint” ( paint ) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of depict¹

C17: from Latin dēpingere, from pingere to paint

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

“Boots” depicts what that looks like, including in a scene when a sergeant punches one young man hard enough to send him to the infirmary, simply for cutting his eyes at him.

Read more on Salon

“The Front Runner” depicts Prefontaine as smug but sensitive, and it keeps a narrow focus on his immediate sports circle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The most notable addition to the story is a sequence depicting the Phantom’s humiliating past as part of a freak show—a clever innovation that slightly humanizes this opaque character.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Many sported stickers on their shirts with the words “They’re returning,” in reference to the hostages, replacing stickers that had before depicted the number of days they had spent in captivity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Exquisite, also, is a grouping of several soft-paste-biscuit tabletop figurines—classical and idyllic scenes depicting lovers, children, goddesses and bathers, all designed by Boucher.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• characterize 
• detail 
• illustrate 
• interpret 
• paint 
• portray 
• represent 
• reproduce 
• sketch