personify

verb

per·​son·​i·​fy pər-ˈsä-nə-ˌfī How to pronounce personify (audio)
personified; personifying

transitive verb

1
: to conceive of or represent as a person or as having human qualities or powers
2
: to be the embodiment or personification of : incarnate
a teacher who personified patience
personifier noun

Examples of personify in a Sentence

The ancient Greeks personified the forces of nature as gods and goddesses. Justice is personified as a woman with her eyes covered.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
No two players better personified Houston’s problematic response to injuries than Alvarez and center fielder Jake Meyers, who injured himself on July 9 while running out to his position before first pitch. Chandler Rome, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025 The denizens of Pynchon’s worlds often serve to personify and expose a nuanced message about society or humanity. Andrew McGowan, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025 Becoming App State’s head coach Shawn was the Yosef statue on Boone’s River Street personified. Ethan Joyce, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2025 Her leadership approach offers small business owners a clear model for how personifying a company strengthens teams, builds resilience, and ensures longevity beyond the founder. Dan Ringo, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for personify

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of personify was in 1728

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Personify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personify. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

personify

verb
per·​son·​i·​fy pər-ˈsän-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce personify (audio)
personified; personifying
1
: to think of or represent as a person
personify the forces of nature
2
: to be the perfect example of
she personified kindness

More from Merriam-Webster on personify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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