personify

verb per·son·i·fy \ pər-ˈsä-nə-ˌfī \

Definition of personify

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

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personifier

play \pər-ˈsä-nə-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun

See personify defined for English-language learners

See personify defined for kids

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 of personify from the Web

Pomerance's tale showcases the triumph of a very human spirit, personified by the sensitive, almost saintly Merrick.

— asssociated press, latimes.com, "'The Elephant Man' playwright Bernard Pomerance dies at 76," 29 Aug. 2017
She is dedicated and personifies the values of education as an online student, combining work, school and family life.

— donna kiesling, Post-Tribune, "For Lowell woman, nutrition scholarships provide food for thought," 24 Aug. 2017
Nothing personifies the anxiety-inducing madness of modern air travel like an international terminal.

— adam popescu, Vanities, "Inside the Private, Celebrity-Friendly Terminal at LAX," 16 Aug. 2017
Nothing personifies the anxiety-inducing madness of modern air travel like an international terminal.

— adam popescu, vanityfair.com, "Inside the Private, Celebrity-Friendly Terminal at LAX," 16 Aug. 2017
Malala personifies what is admirable about Pakistan and its people: youth, resilience, bravery, and patriotism.

— chicagotribune.com, "Why Pakistan hates Malala," 15 Aug. 2017
Rees-Mogg is the antithesis of Corbyn, and if the former was to become Conservative leader, the alternative visions of both parties would be starkly personified by the two men.

— jeff cimmino, National Review, "The Appeal of Jacob Rees-Mogg," 12 Aug. 2017
Trump may personify America’s descent into coarse discourse and amplify its spread.

— amy zegart, The Atlantic, "The Three Paradoxes Disrupting American Politics," 5 Aug. 2017
The subjugation of mankind—mankind as represented by Charlton Heston, the handsome ideal of white masculinity personified—by mere apes was thought to be patently ridiculous.

— joshua rivera, GQ, "Planet of the Apes Is the Best Movie Series You’re Not Watching," 21 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'personify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of personify

1728

personify Synonyms

Synonyms

body, epitomize, express, externalize, incarnate, incorporate, instantiate, manifest, materialize, personalize, embody, substantiate

Antonyms

disembody

Related Words

actualize, concretize, realize; exemplify, illustrate, image, objectify, symbolize, typify

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

PERSONIFY Defined for English Language Learners

personify

verb

Definition of personify for English Language Learners

: to have a lot of (a particular quality) : to be the perfect example of a person who has (a quality)
: to think of or represent (a thing or idea) as a person or as having human qualities or powers