depict
American
verb
-
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
What these ecstatic works signify—and whether they depict angels or demons, predators or prey, creators or destroyers—remains elusive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 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
His drawings and paintings depict the world around him, as well as his former bosses at BT.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
They depict Luke and me snug in new pajamas, splashing in a bubble bath, and hugging a hound dog whose head is twice as big as my brother’s.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
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 cover for his debut solo studio album, “Indigo,” depicts Hyong-keun’s 1972 painting “Blue,” and the album’s lead track, “Yun,” a collaboration with Erykah Badu, kicks off with recorded dialogue from the artist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 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
It depicts a sharp-toothed, hat- wearing figure who faces the viewer frontally and holds a long stick or rod vertically in each hand.
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
Centineo says the film's stunt team closely studied each character's video game movements to ensure their signature moves were accurately depicted on film.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Even as Bass embarked on a 22-year political career that has seen stops in Sacramento, Washington and City Hall, the native Angeleno always, successfully depicted herself as a political outsider.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 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
Modeled after one made by the famous German painter Albrecht Dürer, and depicted in Vincent's art manuals, it’s an open rectangle made of wood, strung with horizontal and vertical threads to make a grid.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
The newest, a wall-sized 2026 painting in ink on paper, “Ancient Cypress on the Cliff,” by Wang Mansheng, dwarfs a neighboring Southern Song dynasty fan painting depicting a wintry forest in ink on silk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 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
In what is believed to be its first time travelling outside France, the tapestry depicting 627 figures and more than 700 animals has been laid flat in a raised glass cabinet.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
His “Stickballers,” depicting children playing stickball, shares a throughline with other artists depicting scenes of everyday life in the collection, including Ernie Barnes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
A few benches ran along the walls, above which were vivid colors depicting colossal figures of workers carrying streaming banners.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
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