depict

verb

de·​pict di-ˈpikt 

dē-

depicted; depicting; depicts

transitive verb

1

: to represent by or as if by a picture

a mural depicting a famous battle

2

: describe sense 1

the way the novelist depicts young characters

depicter

di-ˈpik-tər 

dē-

noun

Did you know?

Depict and Depiction

If you depict someone or something, you show what that person or thing is like—either in some kind of image (such as a drawing, painting, photograph, or movie), or with words.

What results from your efforts to depict that person or thing can be called a depiction. The noun depiction is included at this entry without a definition because its meaning can be easily understood from the definition of the verb—it's the act of, or an instance of, depicting something or someone—but some examples of depiction in a sentence might be helpful:

The depiction of the battle in the painting is not historically correct.

I think the novel is a good depiction of a typical modern American marriage.

Many were moved by the film's depictions of animals helping people.

The author's depiction of the practice as uncommon is problematic; it's done by millions of people throughout the world every day.

The essay is an honest depiction of life in the city.

The book is fascinating in its depiction of the country's early history.

Synonyms of depict

• describe
• portray

Examples of depict in a Sentence

The wall was painted with a large mural depicting famous scenes from American history.

Several of the architect's most famous buildings will soon be depicted on postage stamps.

The photograph depicts the two brothers standing in front of a store.

Angels are usually depicted with wings.

In the drawing, the magic cap was depicted as a soft, black hat.

The movie depicts the life of early settlers.

I like the way she depicts the characters in her novels.

Recent Examples on the Web

The photos depict evidence including the murder weapon, Anthony’s backpack and the scene after the stabbing took place. —Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 2026

Among all the things that make Iliad Bookshop unique is the mural outside, depicting literary scenes and portraits of more than fifty authors and musicians like Charles Dickens, Sylvia Plath, Harper Lee, Pink Floyd and Tom Petty. —Daily News, 19 June 2026

The flip side • Thank you to Sanford for the lovely bronze sculpture by their library depicting a whimsical scene of children on a bridge of books symbolizing the bridge to education and learning. —Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026

The mural that wraps around the room depicts the colorful life of the bar’s namesake, Arabella Huntington, the second wife of railroad magnate Collis Potter Huntington, and the cocktails in the drinks menu are playfully written as fictional entries in Arabella’s diary. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin depictus, past participle of depingere, from de- + pingere to paint — more at paint

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for depict

• addict
• afflict
• constrict
• delict
• evict
• handpicked
• inflict
• predict
• relict
• restrict
• bricked
• clicked

Kids Definition

depict

verb

de·​pict di-ˈpikt 

1

: to represent by a picture

2

: to describe in words

depiction

-ˈpik-shən 

noun