portray

[ pawr-trey, pohr- ]
/ pɔrˈtreɪ, poʊr- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR portray ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to make a likeness of by drawing, painting, carving, or the like.
to depict in words; describe graphically.
to represent dramatically, as on the stage: He portrayed Napoleon in the play.

Origin of portray

1300–50; Middle English portrayen < Middle French portraire < Late Latin prōtrahere to depict, Latin: to draw forth, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + trahere to draw

synonym study for portray

1, 2. See depict.

OTHER WORDS FROM portray

Words nearby portray

portrait lens, portrait of a lady, the, portrait of the artist as a young man, portraitist, portraiture, portray, portrayal, portress, portside, portsmouth, portugal

Words related to portray

depict, render, characterize, describe, paint, interpret, illustrate, delineate, picture, draw, figure, mimic, image, sketch, reproduce, duplicate, limn, simulate, impersonate, copy

Example sentences from the Web for portray

British Dictionary definitions for portray

portray
/ (pɔːˈtreɪ) /

verb (tr)

to represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, etc; make a portrait of
to make a verbal picture of; depict in words
to play the part of (a character) in a play or film

Derived forms of portray

portrayable, adjective portrayal, noun portrayer, noun

Word Origin for portray

C14: from Old French portraire to depict, from Latin prōtrahere to drag forth, bring to light, from pro- 1 + trahere to drag