portray

[ pawr-trey ]

verb (used with object)

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

   Synonyms: limn, delineate, picture

2. to depict in words; describe graphically.

   Synonyms: limn, delineate, picture

3. to represent dramatically, as on the stage:

   He portrayed Napoleon in the play.

portray

/ pɔːˈtreɪ /

verb

1. to represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, etc; make a portrait of
2. to make a verbal picture of; depict in words
3. to play the part of (a character) in a play or film

Derived Forms

• porˈtrayer, noun
• porˈtrayal, noun
• porˈtrayable, adjective

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of portray¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of portray¹

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

Synonym Study

See depict.

Example Sentences

The process sounds normal, but when you see the characters they were portraying and the things they were doing, “Ghost Cat Anzu” becomes all the weirder and wilder — and better.

From Los Angeles Times

If you ask the cast, they will tell you I’m the most different than the character I’m portraying of any of us.

From Los Angeles Times

“Chinese leaders will reinforce the narrative that the US is the single and most disruptive source of global instability, while portraying China as a responsible and confident world power,” says Yu Jie.

From BBC

In NSYNC, Bass was designated to portray the shy member archetype.

From Salon

Following Shore’s saying that if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism, the show’s creators thought it was important to portray how autism manifests in different ways.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• characterize
• depict
• describe
• illustrate
• interpret
• paint
• render