personify

[per-son-uh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

personified, personifying 

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

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

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

4. 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.

   Synonyms: incorporate, exemplify, represent

5. to personate.

personify

/ pɜːˈsɒnɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to attribute human characteristics to (a thing or abstraction)

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

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

4. to be the embodiment of

Other Word Forms

• personifiable adjective
• personifiant adjective
• personifier noun
• unpersonifying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of personify¹

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

Example Sentences

Between her sparkling teeth, her blindingly white blouses, and her overall way-too-bright energy, Autumn’s mother is basically sunlight personified.

Read more on Literature

A good story requires characters, and Mr. Kukushkin personifies atoms, chemicals, even entire biological kingdoms, using whimsical drama to illustrate fundamental principles of biochemistry.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He had been solidity personified since the start of the year, and unquestionably the leading McLaren driver to that point of the season.

Read more on BBC

Germany this time is personified by a defendant: Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe and second only to the Führer in the military command.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Garfield is goodness personified; we meet him on his farm, cooking breakfast for the family, planing wood to make a picnic table.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• act out 
• embody 
• epitomize 
• exemplify 
• illustrate 
• incarnate 
• manifest 
• symbolize 
• typify