portray
[ pawr-trey, pohr- ]
/ pɔrˈtreɪ, poʊr- /
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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.
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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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 for portray
1, 2. See depict.
OTHER WORDS FROM portray
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for portray
British Dictionary definitions for portray
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
Derived forms of portray
portrayable, adjectiveportrayal, nounportrayer, nounWord 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
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