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.
In these videos, Professor EP is either an AI voice or a person using a voice changer and is personified as a person in stock footage wearing a suit and a silver Guy Fawkes mask. Jason Koebler, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2024 Emotionally, the investment was incontrovertible the past week, from Wade’s tribute to the Heat’s past legends to the praise of a future personified by current center Bam Adebayo. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2024 At Hotel Mediterraneo on via Cavour, travelers can now admire a second-century AD marble statue of Roma (the deity who was believed to personify the city of Rome) set in a protective glass case in the lobby. Sylvie Bigar, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 Two starkly different House candidates, in separate races, personify the intensifying ideological partitioning occurring within the once strongly Democratic constituency of Latino voters, whose numbers are growing. Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near personify

Cite this Entry

“Personify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personify. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

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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