portray
[ pawr-trey, pohr- ]
/ pɔrˈtreɪ, poʊr- /
verb (used with object)
to make a likeness of by drawing, painting, carving, or the like.
to depict in words; describe graphically.
to represent dramatically, as on the stage: He portrayed Napoleon in the play.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
depict, render, characterize, describe, paint, interpret, illustrate, delineate, picture, draw, figure, mimic, image, sketch, reproduce, duplicate, limn, simulate, impersonate, copy
Nearby words
- portrait lens,
- portrait of a lady, the,
- portrait of the artist as a young man,
- portraitist,
- portraiture,
- portrayal,
- portress,
- portside,
- portsider,
- portsmouth
Origin of portray
1300–50; Middle English portrayen < Middle French portraire < Late Latin prōtrahere to depict, Latin: to draw forth, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + trahere to draw
Synonym study
1, 2. See depict.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for portrayed
portray
/ (pɔːˈtreɪ) /
verb (tr)
to represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, etc; make a portrait of
to make a verbal picture of; depict in words
to play the part of (a character) in a play or film
Word Origin for portray
C14: from Old French portraire to depict, from Latin prōtrahere to drag forth, bring to light, from pro- 1 + trahere to drag
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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portray
mid-13c., "to draw, paint" (something), from Anglo-French purtraire, Old French portraire "to draw, to paint, portray" (12c.), literally "trace, draw forth," from por- "forth" (from Latin pro-; see pro-) + traire "trace, draw," from Latin trahere "to drag, draw" (see tract (n.1)). Meaning "depict in words, describe" is from late 14c. Related: Portrayed; portraying.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper