portray
verb (used with object)
to make a likeness of by drawing, painting, carving, or the like.
portrays
-
present tense formof portray (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
“We remain fearless in identifying as Sikhs — even when our government portrays us as enemies,” the coalition wrote on X.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Sometimes he portrays her as a shrew, whining last year about how he’d be “in trouble” if he forgot to mention their anniversary during a speech.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026
CBS’s upcoming legal drama “Cupertino,” premiering next month, portrays tech giants as Goliaths against a team of scrappy attorneys taking up the causes of those wronged by them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
The film portrays how it began to dawn on her what she had taken on when she entered competitions in the run up to the Games.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
Squire portrays himself as aghast—though he can hardly have been surprised—when one famous condemned murderer, Shillitoni, interrupted an autopsy by going mad in his cell, breaking his furniture, and tearing his bedding to shreds.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
