portray

[ pawr-trey ]

See synonyms for portray on Thesaurus.com

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

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”

synonym study For portray

1, 2. See depict.

Other words for portray

1, 2	picture, delineate, limn

See synonyms for portray on Thesaurus.com

Other words from portray

por·tray·a·ble, adjective
por·tray·er, noun
non·por·tray·a·ble, adjective
pre·por·tray, verb (used with object)
un·por·tray·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use portray in a sentence

They want Marvin to be as mean and as lonely and as trashy as the characters he portrays.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Marriott, with its deep history in the Mormon faith, portrays itself as a deeply ethical institution.
How ‘Ethical’ Hotel Chain Marriott Gouges Guests in the Name of Wi-Fi Security | Kyle Chayka | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A recent Pew Poll graphically likewise portrays the stark national divide, and the granular differences are gaping.
The 2014 Election Is Yet Another Scrum in the Culture Wars | Lloyd Green | October 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Some businesses are also promising to never market their products in a way that portrays children in a sexual manner.
How Your Company Can End Violence Against Girls | Gary Cohen | October 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Well, Hannah Horvath, the character Dunham created and portrays, makes horrible decisions.
Speed Read: Lena Dunham’s Most Shocking Confessions From ‘Not That Kind of Girl’ | Kevin Fallon | September 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

It portrays Baudelaire as he is very little known, and as he was only at that particular time.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life | Thophile Gautier
There is an ancient fable of sop about the Dog and the Wolf which portrays this sentiment in a very quaint and delightful manner.
Wanted, a Young Woman to Do Housework | C. Helene Barker
His Socialistic bias is pronounced, but it does not interfere with the pictures that he portrays.
The History of Yiddish Literature in the Nineteenth Century | Leo Wiener
Portrays the moral customs of those who set the fashion in our present-day world.
The Book of Life: Vol. I Mind and Body; Vol. II Love and Society | Upton Sinclair
The manners it describes have often ceased to exist; the types it portrays have disappeared, or have become changed.
The English Stage | Augustin Filon

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

Origin of portray

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

Derived forms of portray

portrayable, adjective
portrayal, noun
portrayer, noun

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

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