personify

[ per-son-uh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, per·son·i·fied, per·son·i·fy·ing.

1. to attribute human nature or character to (an inanimate object or an abstraction), as in speech or writing.
2. to represent (a thing or abstraction) in the form of a person, as in art.
3. to embody (a quality, idea, etc.) in a real person or a concrete thing.
4. to be an embodiment or incarnation of; typify:

   He personifies the ruthless ambition of some executives.

   The vicar's wife was grace and beauty personified.

   Synonyms: incorporate, exemplify, represent

5. to personate.

personify

/ pɜːˈsɒnɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to attribute human characteristics to (a thing or abstraction)
2. to represent (an abstract quality) in human or animal form
3. (of a person or thing) to represent (an abstract quality), as in art or literature
4. to be the embodiment of

Derived Forms

• perˈsoniˌfiable, adjective
• perˈsoniˌfier, noun

Other Words From

• per·son·i·fi·a·ble [per-son-, uh, -, fahy, -, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• per·son·i·fi·ant adjective
• per·son·i·fi·er noun
• un·per·son·i·fy·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of personify¹

First recorded in 1720–30; person + -ify; compare French personnifier, Italian personificare

Example Sentences

They personify intangibles that sabermetrics can never quantify and that fans yearn to encounter: Hope.

From Los Angeles Times

Shows like Auction Hunters, Storage Hunters, and Storage Wars began to personify the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”—except with objects of value, monetary or sentimental, on the line.

From Slate

“In Black communities, I was able to personify that Black people could be gay and Black people could also live with HIV. And in white gay spaces, I could personify that not all gay people are white.”

From Los Angeles Times

Those who seek to govern us seek too to attempt to personify – however imperfectly – the country they seek to lead.

From BBC

In contrast to his conference speech last autumn, which had the theme of change, he also sought to defend the Conservatives' time in government, while attempting to personify the future.

From BBC

Related Words

• act out
• embody
• epitomize
• exemplify
• illustrate
• incarnate
• manifest
• symbolize
• typify