portray

verb

por·​tray pȯr-ˈtrā 

pər-

portrayed; portraying; portrays

transitive verb

1

: to make a picture of : depict

2

a

: to describe in words

b

: to play the role of : enact

portrayer noun

Synonyms

• delineate
• depict
• describe
• draw
• image
• limn
• paint
• picture
• render
• set out
• sketch

Examples of portray in a Sentence

The White House has portrayed the President as deeply conflicted over the matter.

The lawyer portrayed his client as a victim of child abuse.

He portrayed himself as a victim.

The painting portrays the queen in a purple robe.

Laurence Olivier portrayed Hamlet beautifully.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are a multitude of ways that the steps might be devised and portrayed. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024

Anthony served as a producer and is credited as a stunt double for actor Jharrel Jerome, who portrays Anthony. —Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2024

On screen, Julianne Moore is Ingrid, a writer who begins visiting her friend Martha, portrayed by Tilda Swinton, who is dying of cancer. —Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 7 Sep. 2024

In Jeremy Saulnier’s action-thriller Rebel Ridge, Aaron Pierre portrays Terry Richmond, an ex-marine who finds himself at odds with local law enforcement in the fictional small town of Shelby Springs. —Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English portraien, from Anglo-French purtraire, from Latin protrahere to draw forth, reveal, expose — more at protract

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

portray

verb

por·​tray pōr-ˈtrā 

pȯr-

1

: to make a portrait of

2

a

: to describe in words

b

: to play the role of

portrayer noun