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

Centered on the life of Robbie Williams, the movie differs from many of the recent biopics as the global pop star is portrayed through motion-capture CG in the form of a monkey.

From Los Angeles Times

We still live in a sea of cultural messages that portray women as the ones trying to build relationships with supposedly reluctant men.

From Salon

As an actor, how did you approach knowing you’d be portraying Aaron from his high school years, then his football career and all the way through to his death?

From Los Angeles Times

Made for Amsterdam's Arquebusiers Guild Hall, Rembrandt van Rijn's 1642 oil painting is one of the earliest to portray a group in action.

From BBC

Over the years, she’s been portrayed as the “poor little Black girl” whose parents used her for money, the teenager who never had a childhood because she was a Nickelodeon child star.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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