personify

[ per-son-uh-fahy ]

/ pərˈsɒn əˌfaɪ /

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See synonyms for: personify / personified / personifies on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), per·son·i·fied, per·son·i·fy·ing.

to attribute human nature or character to (an inanimate object or an abstraction), as in speech or writing.

to represent (a thing or abstraction) in the form of a person, as in art.

to embody (a quality, idea, etc.) in a real person or a concrete thing.

to be an embodiment or incarnation of; typify: He personifies the ruthless ambition of some executives.The vicar's wife was grace and beauty personified.

to personate.

OTHER WORDS FOR personify

4 represent, exemplify, incorporate.

See synonyms for personify on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of personify

First recorded in 1720–30; person + -ify; compare French personnifier, Italian personificare

OTHER WORDS FROM personify

per·son·i·fi·a·ble

[per-son-uh-fahy-uh-buhl], /pərˌsɒn əˈfaɪ ə bəl/, adjectiveper·son·i·fi·ant, adjectiveper·son·i·fi·er, nounun·per·son·i·fy·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use personify in a sentence

And nobody personifies the great man view of history better than Napoleon Bonaparte.
Napoleon Was a Dynamite Dictator|J.P. O’Malley|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For it is the way her life personifies the poetry of dance that gives our film its resonance.
The Tragic Downfall of Tanaquil Le Clercq, Ballet’s Greatest Muse|Nancy Buirski|February 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A woman candidate personifies change just by being on the ballot.
Both Parties Want Binders Full of Women|Justin Green|April 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Tel Aviv, to generalize but slightly, dislikes Netanyahu and fears the future he personifies.
Resigned To Loss, But Optimism On The Center-Left|Fania Oz-Salzberger|January 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Ailes personifies Fox in a way that is true for few other corporate executives.
Why Roger Ailes Won't Walk Away|Howard Kurtz|October 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He here addresses his fair one's Pity, whom he personifies, and addresses as a mistress.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
The Hunt, as you may know, personifies our Omegan way of life.
The Status Civilization|Robert Sheckley
Among the northern Buddhists it personifies the heaven of pure flame superposed upon the heaven of the sun.
The Swastika|Thomas Wilson
Though he personifies the male principle, there is not anything indecent in pictorial representations of him.
Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism|Thomas Inman
To a Japanese, who never personifies anything, such innocent irony is unmeaning.
The Soul of the Far East|Percival Lowell

British Dictionary definitions for personify

personify

/ (pɜːˈsɒnɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)

to attribute human characteristics to (a thing or abstraction)

to represent (an abstract quality) in human or animal form

(of a person or thing) to represent (an abstract quality), as in art or literature

to be the embodiment of

Derived forms of personify

personifiable, adjectivepersonifier, noun

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

personify

OTHER WORDS FOR personify

Origin of personify

OTHER WORDS FROM personify

Words related to personify

How to use personify in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for personify

Derived forms of personify