portray

[pawr-trey]

verb (used with object)

1. to make a likeness of by drawing, painting, carving, or the like.

   Synonyms: limn, delineate, picture

2. to depict in words; describe graphically.

   Synonyms: limn, delineate, picture

3. to represent dramatically, as on the stage.

   He portrayed Napoleon in the play.

portray

/ pɔːˈtreɪ /

verb

1. to represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, etc; make a portrait of

2. to make a verbal picture of; depict in words

3. to play the part of (a character) in a play or film

Other Word Forms

• portrayable adjective
• portrayer noun
• nonportrayable adjective
• preportray verb (used with object)
• unportrayable adjective
• portrayal noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of portray¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English portrayen, from Middle French portraire, from Late Latin prōtrahere “to depict,” Latin: “to draw forth,” equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + trahere “to draw”

Word History and Origins

Origin of portray¹

C14: from Old French portraire to depict, from Latin prōtrahere to drag forth, bring to light, from _pro- ¹ + trahere to drag

Synonym Study

See depict.

Example Sentences

When AI-generated videos portray something that never happened with such realism, it stops being satire and is instead a false representation.

Read more on Salon

With rare exceptions, bosses typically stand in as the villains in workplace movies and are often portrayed as manipulative, hard-driving taskmasters.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There is a lot of AI software that can be used to make this trend, but not all can create the flawless content social media is portraying.

Read more on BBC

The love of ambiguity can feel somewhat coy—Ms. Tokarczuk gestures toward the existence of occult mysteries without deigning to fully portray them.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Throughout his 15 years in opposition, Hichilema portrayed himself as an upholder of democratic values.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• characterize 
• depict 
• describe 
• illustrate 
• interpret 
• paint 
• render