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Synonyms

portrayal

American  
[pawr-trey-uhl, pohr-] / pɔrˈtreɪ əl, poʊr- /

noun

  1. the act of portraying.

  2. a portrait.

Other Word Forms

  • misportrayal noun
  • nonportrayal noun
  • preportrayal noun

Etymology

Origin of portrayal

First recorded in 1840–50; portray + -al 2

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.

You can sense a whole life behind these portrayals; they draw you in and make you want to know more.

From Los Angeles Times

Jacob Elordi won best supporting actor for his portrayal of the Monster in "Frankenstein," which also won three technical awards, while Amy Madigan won supporting actress for a villainous turn in horror flick "Weapons."

From Barron's

The World of Love has been dubbed the "movie of the year" by Korean media for its touching, empathetic portrayal of life after trauma.

From BBC

Jeremy Allen White’s portrayal of the Boss, brimming with bravado onstage but nearing a breakdown at home, recently earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

From The Wall Street Journal

In September, the Warrington-born teenager became the youngest male actor to win an Emmy award for his portrayal of a schoolboy accused of murdering a classmate.

From BBC

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.