portray

[pawr-trey, pohr-]

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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.

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

Related formspor·tray·a·ble, adjectivepor·tray·er, nounnon·por·tray·a·ble, adjectivepre·por·tray, verb (used with object)un·por·tray·a·ble, adjectiveun·por·trayed, adjective

Synonyms for portray

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1, 2. picture, delineate, limn.

Synonym study

1, 2. See depict.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for portrayed

depict, render, characterize, describe, paint, interpret, illustrate, delineate, picture, draw, figure, mimic, image, sketch, reproduce, duplicate, limn, simulate, impersonate, copy

Examples from the Web for portrayed

Contemporary Examples of portrayed

David Prowse, the actor who portrayed Darth Vader, wished to come back but had to turn down the role because of ill health.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones)
Rich Goldstein
January 3, 2015
Among the characters to be portrayed were the people I had written about—the unsung heroes of the Selma campaign.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’
Gary May
January 2, 2015
Same goes for the comic book character “Captain America,” which Marvel announced in July would be now be portrayed as a black man.
Rush Limbaugh’s Fear of a Black James Bond
Dean Obeidallah
December 29, 2014
Of course there are times when actual CIA practice would have been different from that portrayed in Homeland.
CIA Agents Assess: How Real Is ‘Homeland’?
Chuck Cogan, John MacGaffin
December 15, 2014
Urban America is often portrayed as a tale of two kinds of places, those that “have it” and those who do not.
The Rustbelt Roars Back From the Dead
Joel Kotkin, Richey Piiparinen
December 7, 2014

Historical Examples of portrayed

I have been told that never was there an Englishman on earth like the one I portrayed in my novel.
Tales of Fishes
Zane Grey
Her disposition was sweet, and was portrayed in her countenance.
The Settlers in Canada
Frederick Marryat
It seemed to me that the whole man was portrayed in these brief remarks.
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 445
Various
If I have portrayed the dark side of slavery, I also have painted the bright side.
Behind the Scenes
Elizabeth Keckley
Would that Armstrong could here be portrayed as he appeared in life.
The Negro and the Nation
George S. Merriam

British Dictionary definitions for portrayed

portray

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

Derived Formsportrayable, adjectiveportrayal, nounportrayer, noun

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for portrayed

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.