portray
verb (used with object)
to make a likeness of by drawing, painting, carving, or the like.
had portrayed
-
past perfectof portray.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Cooper said the Iranian government was "peddling its manufactured narrative of foreign manipulation" and had portrayed protesters as criminals and terrorists.
From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2026
During Monday’s hearing, he complained that mainstream news media, including the Washington Post, had portrayed him and his allies “like we have a tinfoil hat on our heads.”
From Slate ● Dec. 19, 2025
Peter Greenspun, Settles’s defense attorney, argued in court Thursday that the incident was not as clear-cut as prosecutors had portrayed, and that Settles was not the initial aggressor.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 9, 2023
In his opening statement, Mr. McKinney had portrayed Ms. Nicholson as a kind of unwitting accomplice.
From New York Times ● Jul. 6, 2022
Unfortunately, the doctor sounded as condescending as Leah had portrayed him.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
