Pronunciation: /pɔrˈtreɪ/

Definitions of portray

noun the act of portraying or representing something

Example Sentences

A1 The artist's portray of the landscape was very realistic.

A2 Her portray of the character in the play was captivating.

B1 The book's portray of the historical events was accurate and well-researched.

B2 The movie's portray of the protagonist's struggles was emotionally compelling.

C1 The museum's portray of ancient civilizations was comprehensive and informative.

C2 The actor's portray of the complex character was nuanced and masterful.

verb to depict or represent in a particular way

Example Sentences

A1 She portrayed a happy character in the school play.

A2 The artist portrayed the beautiful scenery with vibrant colors.

B1 The movie portrayed a realistic depiction of life in the city.

B2 The author skillfully portrayed the complex emotions of the main character.

C1 The actor's performance portrayed a deep understanding of the character's motivations.

C2 The painting expertly portrayed the artist's unique perspective on the world.

Examples of portray in a Sentence

formal The artist aimed to accurately portray the historical event in his painting.

informal She always tries to portray herself as a social butterfly on social media.

slang The movie really portrayed the main character as a total badass.

figurative His use of metaphors effectively portrayed the complexity of human emotions.

Grammatical Forms of portray

past tense

portrayed

plural

portray

comparative

more portray

superlative

most portray

present tense

portrays

future tense

will portray

perfect tense

have portrayed

continuous tense

is portraying

singular

portray

positive degree

portray

infinitive

to portray

gerund

portraying

participle

portrayed

Origin and Evolution of portray

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old French
Story behind the word: The word 'portray' originated from the Old French word 'portraire' which came from the Latin word 'protrahere' meaning 'to draw forth'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'portray' evolved from its original meaning of 'to draw forth' to 'to depict or represent in a picture or sculpture'.