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Depict and Depiction
If you depict someone or something, you show what that person or thing is like—either in some kind of image (such as a drawing, painting, photograph, or movie), or with words.
What results from your efforts to depict that person or thing can be called a depiction. The noun depiction is included at this entry without a definition because its meaning can be easily understood from the definition of the verb—it's the act of, or an instance of, depicting something or someone—but some examples of depiction in a sentence might be helpful:
The depiction of the battle in the painting is not historically correct.
I think the novel is a good depiction of a typical modern American marriage.
Many were moved by the film's depictions of animals helping people.
The author's depiction of the practice as uncommon is problematic; it's done by millions of people throughout the world every day.
The essay is an honest depiction of life in the city.
The book is fascinating in its depiction of the country's early history.
Cite this Entry
“Depict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depict. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.
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