Synonyms

portray

American

[pawr-trey] / pɔrˈtreɪ /

verb (used with object)

to make a likeness of by drawing, painting, carving, or the like.

Synonyms:

limn, delineate, picture
to depict in words; describe graphically.

Synonyms:

limn, delineate, picture
to represent dramatically, as on the stage.

He portrayed Napoleon in the play.

portray British

/ pɔːˈtreɪ /

verb

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

"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

Related Words

See depict.

Other Word Forms

nonportrayable adjective
portrayable adjective
portrayal noun
portrayer noun
preportray verb (used with object)
unportrayable adjective

Etymology

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”

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023