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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Portray

/pɔːˈtɹeɪ̯/ · verb

Meaning

To paint or draw the likeness of..

Definitions by Sense

  1. To paint or draw the likeness of.
  2. (figuratively) To represent by an image or look.
  3. (figuratively) To describe in words; to convey.
  4. To play a role; to depict a character, person, situation, or event.
  5. (obsolete) To adorn.

Example Sentences

I will portray a king on horseback.
Upon his browes was pourtraid vgly death, And in his eies the furies of his heart, That ſhine as Comets, menacing reueng, And caſts a pale complexion on his cheeks.
For my next movie, I will be portraying Shakespeare.

Synonyms for portray

presentdepictlimnimpersonate

Antonyms for portray

Related Words

limndepictimpersonatepresentdrawimageoutlinephotographreflectillustratepaintdisplaydescriberepresentmaketraceproduceshowexemplifyintroduce

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does portray mean?

Portray means To paint or draw the likeness of..

What is a synonym for portray?

Common synonyms include present, depict, limn, impersonate.

What is the opposite of portray?

The opposite depends on the specific sense.

How do you use portray in a sentence?

I will portray a king on horseback.

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.