depict

[dih-pikt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR depict ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to represent by or as if by painting; portray; delineate.

to represent or characterize in words; describe.

Origin of depict

1625–35; < Latin dēpictus (past participle of dēpingere), equivalent to dē- de- + pic- past participle stem of pingere to paint + -tus past participle suffix

Related formsde·pict·er, de·pic·tor, nounde·pic·tion, nounde·pic·tive, adjectiveun·de·pict·ed, adjectivewell-de·pict·ed, adjective

Synonyms for depict

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR depict ON THESAURUS.COM

1. reproduce, draw, paint, limn.

Synonym study

1, 2. 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for depicting

portray, represent, sketch, characterize, detail, reproduce, paint, interpret, illustrate, delineate, picture, outline, relate, image, state, limn, report, design, narrate, sculpt

Examples from the Web for depicting

Contemporary Examples of depicting

Do you worry about glorifying war, even inadvertently, by depicting it as something sacrosanct?
The Veteran Who Took Home the National Book Award
Jacob Siegel
November 25, 2014
Rose [the main character in “The Cryptozoologist”] and I have kind of the same job, which is depicting this valley.
Tony Earley's Imaginary Friends
Mindy Farabee
September 2, 2014
For the last twenty years, the LGBT equality movement has focused on depicting LGBT lives as they are.
Kirk Cameron Changes His Tune on Same-Sex Marriage
Jay Michaelson
May 28, 2014
Fleiss makes the film as a devotee would, depicting Weir in a saintly glow.
Bob Weir on Drugged-Out Deadheads and Living in Jerry Garcia’s Shadow
Emily Shire
April 25, 2014
Are there any war movies that you feel have done a good job of depicting the plight of the soldier?
J.J. Abrams on ‘Star Trek Into Darkness,’ the Mission Continues & More
Marlow Stern
May 15, 2013

Historical Examples of depicting

At least to this extent, then, Shakespeare used Marlowe in depicting Richard's character.
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
So far I have been depicting the development of Darwin's work on the descent of man.
Evolution in Modern Thought
Ernst Haeckel
By depicting them as much worse than they were, not, as you suppose, much better.
Crotchet Castle
Thomas Love Peacock
In depicting the manner of this education Dickens rather overshoots the mark.
Victorian Worthies
George Henry Blore
In depicting his characters, he strikes a note of idealistic beauty.
Woman's Work in Music
Arthur Elson

British Dictionary definitions for depicting

depict

verb (tr)

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

to represent in words; describe

Derived Formsdepicter or depictor, noundepiction, noundepictive, adjective

Word Origin for depict

C17: from Latin dēpingere, from pingere to paint

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for depicting

depict

early 15c., from Latin depictus, past participle of depingere "to portray, paint, sketch; describe, imagine," from de- "down" (see de-) + pingere "to paint" (see paint (v.)). Related: Depicted; depicting.