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

• body
• embody
• epitomize
• express
• externalize
• incarnate
• incorporate
• instantiate
• manifest
• materialize
• personalize
• substantiate

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

Its complacency was personified by the Gandhi family, whose members dominated the Party but appeared diffident and out of touch. —Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025

Critic’s Pick Politics personified in an aching romance. —The New York Times, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Simple consistency has been one of the mainstays of Forest’s unexpected challenge for Champions League qualification — and nobody better personifies that trait than Aina. —Carl Anka, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025

Over time, federal employees and their civil service perks have come to personify taxpayer frustration with government waste and excess. —Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for personify

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

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