Word
depict
Phoneticsde·pict, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈpɪkt/
UK/dɪpˈɪkt/
Definitions
01to show in art
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to show someone or something in a painting, drawing, or photograph.
v. to represent a subject in a visual art form such as painting, sculpture, or photography.
日本語:描く※
“The old painting depicts a busy market in the centre of the city.”
“The mural depicts the historical struggle of the local community, using vibrant colours to contrast past hardships with future hopes.”
Synonyms
02to describe in words
C1 · Advanced Academic
v. to describe someone or something in a book or a report.
v. to characterise or represent a subject through linguistic description or narrative.
日本語:描写する※
“In his latest novel, the author depicts the detective as a lonely man.”
“The documentary depicts the CEO as a ruthless negotiator, though former employees often offer a more nuanced perspective on her leadership style.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “depict” in context.
Adverb
01. accurately depict
“The documentary aims to accurately depict the daily struggles of refugees in the camp.”
adv + verb
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. Commonly used in passive constructions when discussing art or literature.
Pitfall
The book depicts about the war.
The book depicts the war.
Depict is a transitive verb and takes a direct object; it should not be followed by the preposition 'about'.
Real-World Examples
“A Nasa illustration depicting a possible appearance of the planet Kepler-452b.” “When he re-emerged in 2021, it was as a solo artist: a Guardian profile depicted him “fizzing with enthusiasm” about his new music, excitement borne out by his final album The Painter.” Etymology
From Middle English depicten, from Latin dēpictus, from dēpingō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/depict
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0