portrayed; portraying; portrays
1
: to make a picture of : depict
2
a
: to describe in a particular way
The article portrayed the president as confident.
b
: to play the role of : enact
portrays the hero in the film
portrayer
noun
Examples of portray in a Sentence
The White House has portrayed the President as deeply conflicted over the matter.
The lawyer portrayed his client as a victim of child abuse.
He portrayed himself as a victim.
The painting portrays the queen in a purple robe.
Laurence Olivier portrayed Hamlet beautifully.
Recent Examples on the Web
But while China has portrayed the renminbi as a convenient and safe currency for global trade, experts said that tight controls on moving money in and out of the country will deter investors and financial institutions from relying too heavily on renminbi reserves.
—
Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Madden portrays Secretary of Defense Webb Preston, who has a technology background that sets him apart from most politicians.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
As stressed in the complaint, NCAA rules apply to all athletes on an equal basis, and those rules govern recruitment, eligibility, hours of participation, discipline and other topics that are portrayed as employment terms.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Feb. 2026
This program will immerse you in an atmospheric soundscape, with lyricism and a radiant finale portraying heaven through a child's eyes.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portray
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Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Madden portrays Secretary of Defense Webb Preston, who has a technology background that sets him apart from most politicians.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
As stressed in the complaint, NCAA rules apply to all athletes on an equal basis, and those rules govern recruitment, eligibility, hours of participation, discipline and other topics that are portrayed as employment terms.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Feb. 2026
This program will immerse you in an atmospheric soundscape, with lyricism and a radiant finale portraying heaven through a child's eyes.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portray
Cite this Entry
“Portray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portray. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
portray
verb
por·tray
pōr-ˈtrā 
pȯr-
1
: to make a portrait of
2
a
: to describe in words
b
: to play the role of
portrayer
noun
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