personify

verb

per·​son·​i·​fy pər-ˈsä-nə-ˌfī 

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

pər-ˈsä-nə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms of personify

• embody
• express
• incorporate

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

Save for Snoopy, the military airman in literature is perhaps most famously personified by John Yossarian in Joseph Heller’s Catch‑22, a book Zinn would someday count among his favorites. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

With a soothing neutral color palette and elegant touches like custom cathedral ceilings, the house personifies modern luxury. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 12 Aug. 2026

At times, Fauci appeared to embrace his status as expertise personified. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026

Matt Dirksen / Chicago Cubs / Getty Images PITTSBURGH — Dansby Swanson, the Gold Glove shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, has personified the club’s streakiness at various points of an up-and-down season with so many twists and turns still ahead. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for personify

• acidify
• alveoli
• antinomy
• areolae
• demystify
• detoxify
• disqualify
• diversify
• electrify
• exemplify
• fasciculi
• identify

Kids Definition

personify

verb

per·​son·​i·​fy pər-ˈsän-ə-ˌfī 

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