Definitions for portray
pɔrˈtreɪ, poʊr-por·tray

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.3 / 6 votes

1. portrayverb

   portray in words

   "The book portrays the actor as a selfish person"

2. portray, depict, limnverb

   make a portrait of

   "Goya wanted to portray his mistress, the Duchess of Alba"

3. impersonate, portrayverb

   assume or act the character of

   "She impersonates Madonna"; "The actor portrays an elderly, lonely man"

4. portray, presentverb

   represent abstractly, for example in a painting, drawing, or sculpture

   "The father is portrayed as a good-looking man in this painting"

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 2 votes

1. portrayverb

   To describe in words; to convey.

2. portrayverb

   To adorn with pictures.

3. Etymology: portraire.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To PORTRAYverb

   Etymology: pourtraire, Fr.

   1. To paint; to describe by picture.

   The Earl of Warwick’s ragged staff is yet to be seen portrayed in many places of their church steeple. Carew.

   Take a tile, and so portray upon it the city Jerusalem. Ez.

   Our Phenix queen was portrayed too bright,
   Beauty alone could beauty take so right. Dryden.

   2. To adorn with pictures.

   Shields
   Various, with boastful argument portray’d. John Milton.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. portray

   To portray is to depict or represent someone or something through a particular lens or perspective, often in a creative work such as a painting, film, book, or play. It can also refer to conveying certain characteristics or behaviors through one's actions.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Portrayverb

   to paint or draw the likeness of; as, to portray a king on horseback

2. Portrayverb

   hence, figuratively, to describe in words

3. Portrayverb

   to adorn with pictures

4. 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.]

Matched Categories

1. • Act
   • Art
   • Performing Arts
   • Represent

Anagrams for portray »

1. parroty

2. tropary

How to pronounce portray?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say portray in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of portray in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of portray in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of portray in a Sentence

1. Carolyn Palmer:

   I not only wanted to portray the playful, animated and spontaneous Lucy, but also the glamorous Hollywood icon.

2. W. Somerset Maugham:

   The nature of men and women - their essential nature - is so vile and despicable that if you were to portray a person as he really is, no one would believe you.

3. Thom Tillis:

   Some people want to portray what Donald Trump're doing now as some sort of quick action to prevent the removal of the special counsel because his termination is imminent. I don't believe that, i believe in my heart of hearts the President doesn't intend to remove the special counsel. But what I do believe is this is a policy that will have enduring value that will mean any future president will be subject to the same sort of standard.

4. Rita Moreno:

   Anita, the one who had a sense of herself. A sense of dignity. And I had to portray that. And it felt really good.

5. Jim Paulsen:

   There's not as much downside as people portray, every policy official in the world is trying to push up the markets and the economy, everywhere you look.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=portray
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Portray
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=portray
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portray