to portray

Examples

• All

• They make movies and stories about guys like Danny, and actors are portraying those people.

  Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo (2019)

• I think it did especially well at portraying nice guys.

  Hannah (Sex & Relationships Education)

• It's like portraying a new person is fun.

• The objective of advocacy is to vividly portray a problem as a national crisis.

  Academic text (1992)

• I have a special attachment to St Thomas' and so I was excited to portray the heroism of the doctors and nurses there.

  Atonement (2007)

• Stallone portrays the emotions that fighters go through just perfectly in those Rocky movies.

  Bisping (2021)

• Throughout the text, Roselily portrays the groom as distant, rigid, and imprisoning.

  Academic text (2017)

• The film also features the much-loved star Hara Setsuko, portraying the widowed wife of the dead son.

  Academic text (2013)

• She was chosen to portray the lead character in the new play at the local theater.

• The documentary aims to portray the struggles and achievements of immigrant families.

Synonyms

P

to play

vsto portray

∞ 1.0

Act as a character in a stage show, film, or TV show

is used for showing a character in various artistic works beyond simple casting

A

to act

vsto portray

252 2.1

Perform a role in a play, film, or show

is broader covering any artistic depiction of a character beyond pure acting

D

to depict

vsto portray

185 3.5

To show something in a picture or in words

focuses on acting and playing characters rather than static visual description

B

to be

vsto portray

79 1.0

Act as a character in a play or film

is about showing a character in any artistic work rather than only acting

I

to impersonate

vsto portray

62 7.2

Pretend to be another person by copying their looks, voice or actions

is about playing a role within a work not copying a real person's traits

P

to play the role of

vsto portray

38 3.0

To act as a character in a play or as someone in a real situation

is used for taking on a character in different artistic contexts

R

to role-play

vsto portray

11 3.8

To pretend to be someone else to practice acting and speaking in a situation

is used mainly for artistic performance rather than training simulations

I

to interpret

vsto portray

7 4.1

To perform music or a role in your own way

is about representing a character or role rather than adding personal artistic view

P

to play-act

vsto portray

6 6.1

To act out a scene to practice or show how something happens

is focused on showing a character in artistic performance rather than practice

R

to represent

vsto portray

4 3.9

Act as a character in a play or film

is about showing a character in any artistic work not only stage acting

P

to playact

vsto portray

2 6.7

To pretend to be a person in a story on stage or with friends

is about representing a character within an artistic work not mere pretending

Phrasal Verbs

P

to portray oneself as

1 5.3

To show yourself as a certain kind of person to make others think that way

How Convincing

to embody

96 5.1

to portray

90 3.7

to personify

25 6.1

to mimic

105 3.1

to play

∞ 2.5

Surface Forms

Etymology