Word
portray
Phoneticspor·tray, stress on the second syllable
US/pɔɹˈtɹeɪ/
UK/pɔːtɹˈeɪ/
Definitions
01to represent in art
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to show someone or something in a painting, drawing, or photograph.
v. to depict a subject in a visual medium such as painting or photography.
“The artist chose to portray the king sitting on a simple wooden chair.”
“The portraitist sought to portray the subject not as a distant monarch, but as a weary man burdened by the weight of his responsibilities.”
Usage
Takes a direct object representing the person or thing being shown.
02to describe in words
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to describe someone or something in a book or speech to create a specific image.
v. to represent or characterize someone or something in a literary or verbal account.
“The newspaper article portrayed the local hero as a very humble person.”
“Critics argued that the biography portrayed the inventor in an unfairly negative light, ignoring his significant philanthropic contributions.”
Usage
Often used with 'as' to specify the quality or role being described.
Synonyms
03to play a role
B2 · Upper Intermediate Theater
v. to act as a character in a play or a movie.
v. to represent a character or personage in a dramatic production or cinematic work.
“She will portray the lead character in the new historical drama.”
“The actor was praised for his ability to portray the complex emotions of a man lost in a city he no longer recognized.”
Usage
The object is typically the name of the character or historical figure being played.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “portray” in context.
Verb
01. portray the city in a negative light
“Local residents were upset that the series portrayed the city in a negative light.”
verb + noun + prep + adj + noun
02. portray the hero as a victim
“The script attempts to portray the hero as a victim of circumstance.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. seek to portray the truth
“Journalists must always seek to portray the truth, regardless of the consequences.”
verb + infinitive
Adverb
04. accurately portray the situation
“The documentary fails to accurately portray the situation facing refugees today.”
adv + verb + noun
05. portray the events unfairly
“Critics argued that the news report portrayed the events unfairly to suit a political agenda.”
verb + noun + adv
06. sympathetically portray the protagonist
“The film was criticized for sympathetically portraying the protagonist despite his crimes.”
adv + verb + noun
07. vividly portray the character
“The author vividly portrays the character of the detective through sharp dialogue.”
adv + verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“I think the way the media portrays everything has a massive impact on everyday life now," he says.” “Arday had admitted to making mistakes, but he said he was being wrongly “portrayed to be a liar and a fantasist and an academic fraud”.” “Many postwar accounts of alligator attacks centered on a dated racist slur that portrayed Black children as less than human .” “Fertilization is commonly portrayed as an intense contest in which millions of sperm race toward a single egg.” Etymology
From Middle English portray, from Middle French portraire.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
Domain
- 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/portray