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

In Twisters, which arrived in theaters on Friday, July 19 and also features Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos, James portrays an angry motel guest joined by his female companion. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 21 July 2024

For decades, the genre reliably portrayed physical disability as a barrier to love — particularly for scarred war heroes within historical romance novels. —Kalyani Saxena, Washington Post, 20 July 2024

And last month, another one-minute trailer dropper with a surprise appearance: Sabretooth, played by the same actor, Tyler Mane, who portrayed the character in 2000's X-Men. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 July 2024

Portman portrays Maddie as a woman on fire with ambition and zeal. —Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 19 July 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