portray
UK /pɔːˈtɹeɪ̯/ · US /poɹˈtɹeɪ̯/ verb
Forms portrays portraying portrayed pourtray
- verb To paint or draw the likeness of. “I will portray a king on horseback.”
- verb (figuratively) To represent by an image or look.
- verb (figuratively) To describe in words; to convey.
- verb To play a role; to depict a character, person, situation, or event. “For my next movie, I will be portraying Shakespeare.”
- verb (obsolete) To adorn.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English portray, from Middle French portraire.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To paint or draw the likeness of; as, to portray a king on horseback.
- verb Hence, figuratively, to describe in words.
Etymology [OE. pourtraien, OF. portraire, pourtraire, F. portraire, fr. L. protrahere, protractum, to draw or drag forth; pro forward, forth + trahere to draw. See Trace, v. t., and cf. Protract.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “portray”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details