portly
Americanadjective
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rather heavy or fat; stout; corpulent.
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Archaic. stately, dignified, or imposing.
adjective
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stout or corpulent
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archaic stately; impressive
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of portly
Explanation
If your uncle has a rounder body shape, he might call himself a portly gentleman. Synonyms of portly include stout and heavy. Some opera singers are portly, but all that girth makes it easier for them to produce a robust sound. Although portly is similar to chubby, it’s a little more dignified. In fact, the word was formerly used to mean “dignified,” and it still keeps a dose of dignity. Alfred Hitchcock and Winston Churchill were portly.
Vocabulary lists containing portly
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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A Christmas Carol
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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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.
None of that was necessary when we pulled our snowmobiles over at pass level, where just a few well-spaced trees separated us from the day’s objective, an alpine zone known as Portly Bowl.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 9, 2022
Portly and owlish in oversize glasses, Jiang was an ebullient figure who played the piano and enjoyed singing, in contrast to his more reserved successors, Hu and Xi.
From Washington Times • Nov. 30, 2022
Portly, with pale skin and owl-rimmed glasses, Howard was born in Geelong, Australia, a city southwest of Melbourne.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2020
But Portly has a talent and a passion and knows what he wants to do with his life — become a chef.
From New York Times • Dec. 23, 2012
Portly and balding, he was the University’s Master Arithmetician.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
