portraypor‧tray /pɔːˈtreɪ $ pɔːr-/ ●●○ verb [transitive] 
Word Origin Examples
Romantic artists portrayed nature as wild and powerful. The president likes to portray himself as a friend of working people.► see thesaurus at describe2to describe or represent something or someone SYN depict: His most famous painting portrayed the death of Nelson. Religion was portrayed in a negative way.3to act the part of a character in a play, film, or television programme SYN play: She portrays a dancer in the hit film.
Word OriginWORD ORIGINportray
Verb TableOrigin:
1200-1300 Old French portraire, from Latin protrahere ‘to draw out, show’VERB TABLE
portray
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | portray |
| he, she, it | portrays | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | portrayed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have portrayed |
| he, she, it | has portrayed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had portrayed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will portray |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have portrayed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am portraying |
| he, she, it | is portraying | |
| you, we, they | are portraying | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was portraying |
| you, we, they | were portraying | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been portraying |
| he, she, it | has been portraying | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been portraying |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be portraying |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been portraying |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Fink is not the only writer portrayed in the film.
- In the movie, Burg portrays a real-life Holocaust survivor.
- Their music portrays a lifestyle that no longer exists.
- All along, the Owens River had been portrayed as a matter of life or death to the city of Los Angeles.
- Instead, she portrayed herself as a philanthropist, eager to help old friends down on their luck.
- Leonard Baskin has been chosen to portray F.D.R.'s first inauguration and, in the final room, his funeral cortège.
- The recommendation was a surprise because census officials previously have portrayed adjustment as a solution to chronic undercounts.
- This again portrays Cassius as a hero, and Caesar as a feeble old man in comparison.
- This is the only example portraying a Roman Emperor which has survived intact from such an early age.
- Two portray large dramatic faces that do not look particularly human.
- We are all given T-shirts that portray Erap as a crocodile, gobbling money.
THESAURUS► describe
Collocations to talk or write about a person, place, event etc, in order to show what they are like: · Could you try and describe the man you saw?· In her book, she describes her journey across the Sahara.· Police described the attack as particularly violent.
► tell somebody about somebody/something to describe someone or something to someone. This phrase is more commonly used than describe in everyday spoken English: · So, tell me about your holiday!· My friends have told me all about you!
► depict formal to describe someone or something in a piece of writing: · His stories depict life in Trinidad as seen through the eyes of a young boy.· In this new biography she is depicted as a lonely and unhappy woman.
► portray/represent formal to describe someone or something in a particular way: · College teachers are often represented on television shows as slightly eccentric.· The magazine has been criticized for the way it portrays women.· The treatment has been portrayed as a painless way of curing cancer, which is simply not true.· Police have represented her as a willing participant in the crimes.
► characterize somebody/something as something formal to describe someone or something by emphasizing one particular quality or feature about them: · He characterized himself as ‘an average American’.· The successful schools were characterized as innovative and creative.
► paint somebody/something as something to describe someone or something, especially in a way that makes people believe something that is not true: · Not all young people are as bad as they’re painted in the press.· We won, yet the media is painting it as a victory for our opponents.· The woman was painted as having only a slight grasp of reality.
► paint a picture to describe a situation, so that people can get a general idea of what it is like: · Can you paint a picture of life in Japan for us?· My uncle’s letters generally painted a rosy picture of how things were.· The report painted a bleak picture of the management’s failures.
Longman Language Activatorto describe someone or something in a way that shows your opinion► describe something/somebody as to describe someone or something in a particular way that shows your opinion of them: · I wouldn't describe the job as boring, just a little repetitive sometimes.· John describes himself as the intelligent but shy type.· De la Cruz is described as Mexico's greatest woman poet.
► characterize somebody/something as to describe the character of someone or something in a particular way, especially with the result that people believe it to be true when it may not be: · A reporter characterized Mrs. Clinton as the most controversial first lady in modern history.· She grew up in a small Wisconsin community which she characterizes as conservative.
► label to describe someone or something in a negative way, especially incorrectly or unfairly: · Children who are labelled "slow" usually get less attention from teachers.· Critics have unfairly labelled Young a racist.label somebody/something as: · Campbell has labelled the commission's recommendations as sheer nonsense.
► portray/represent formal to describe someone or something in a particular way, especially in a way that makes people have an untrue idea of what they are like: · The magazine has been criticized for the way it portrays women.portray/represent somebody/something as: · The treatment has been portrayed as a painless way of curing cancer, which is untrue.· Police have represented her as a willing participant in the crimes.
► depict to describe someone or something, especially in writing, by providing a lot of details which give a very true idea of what they are like: · His stories depict life in Trinidad as seen through the eyes of a young boy.depict somebody/something as: · In this new biography she is depicted as a lonely and unhappy woman.
► paint a picture: paint a bleak/grim/rosy etc picture to describe in a very pleasant or very unpleasant way, which may be very different from the truth: paint a picture of: · My uncle's letters generally painted a rosy picture of how things were.· He went on to paint a discouraging picture of the problems facing the state.
WORD SETS► Theatreadapt, verbamphitheatre, nounapron, nounaside, nounaudition, nounaudition, verbauditorium, nounbackcloth, nounbackdrop, nounbackstage, adjectivebalcony, nounbiz, nounbox, nounbox office, nounburlesque, nounchorus, nounchorus girl, nouncircle, nouncomedy of manners, nouncommand performance, nouncurtain, nouncurtain call, noundame, noundinner theater, noundirect, verbdirector, noundouble bill, noundownstage, adverbdramatic, adjectivedramatic irony, noundramatis personae, noundramatist, noundress circle, noundresser, noundressing room, noundress rehearsal, noundumb show, nounentertainment, nounexeunt, verbexit, verbfarce, nounflashback, nounfootlights, nounfringe theatre, noungreasepaint, nounharlequin, nounhouse, nounimage, nounimagery, nounimprovise, verbinterlude, nounkitchen sink drama, nounlead, nounluvvie, nounmake-up, nounmarquee, nounmezzanine, nounmime, verbmiscast, verbmummer, nounmusical, nounmusic hall, nounmystery play, nounnumber, nounoffstage, adverbon, adjectiveopera, nounopera house, nounoperetta, nounorchestra pit, nounoveract, verbpantomime, nounplay, verbplay, nounplaybill, nounplayer, nounplaygoer, nounplayhouse, nounplaywright, nounportray, verbprincipal boy, nounprompter, nounprop, nounproscenium, nounpuppeteer, nounrendering, nounrendition, nounrep, nounrepertory, nounrevival, nounrevue, nounrole, nounrun, verbrun, nounrunway, nounsafety curtain, nounscene, nounscenery, nounseating, nounset, nounsoliloquy, nounspeech, nounstage, nounstage, verbstage direction, nounstage door, nounstage fright, nounstagehand, nounstage manager, nounstage name, nounstagestruck, adjectivestage whisper, nounstaging, nounstock, nounstock company, nountheatre, nountheatregoer, nountheatre-in-the-round, nountheatrical, adjectivetheatricals, nounthespian, nountitle role, nountragedian, nountragedy, nountragic, adjectivetragicomedy, noununderstudy, noununderstudy, verbupstage, adverbvaudeville, nounwalk-on, nounwardrobe, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► portray a character
Phrases (=show one in a play, book, film etc)· The main characters are brilliantly portrayed.
► portray somebody as a victim (=to write or talk about someone as though they are not responsible for their bad situation)· She was portrayed as the victim of a loveless marriage.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► as· First, deficit cultures are portrayed as irrational, as based on ignorance.· Fathers have so rarely done the nurturing that their attempts are either portrayed as heroic or summarily dismissed.· The two companies were portrayed as representing totally contrasting management philosophies.· The sponsoring group must insistently be portrayed as friendly, hopeful, welcoming, and benign.· Newton is portrayed as influencing eighteenth-century perspective in an unspecified manner, although his effect on colour theory is seen as considerable.· The black nationalists were portrayed as well-meaning, earnest ideologues lacking the resources to defeat the establishment.· Synod members were under pressure to crack down on gay clergy, who were portrayed as leading lives of wild abandon!· The various non-human beings who hunt humans are not portrayed as violent or aggressive either.
► often· The life of Brian is often portrayed as a complex one.· In the past, they were often portrayed as at grips with civilization in a sort of duel of love.· Perhaps she really is the long-suffering, devoted wife she's often portrayed to be.· Blaming the victim However, the moral status of the victim is often portrayed as ambivalent in murder trials.· Yet she can not find an entirely satisfactory alternative, for the life of the spinster is often portrayed in stark terms.· Investment is often portrayed as a cure-all for the economic ills of rich countries.· Despite the overwhelming scientific consensus supporting the existence of global warming, the media often portray it as a controversial scientific debate.· Integrate yourself Our hobby is often portrayed as a kind of shady sub-culture, outside the mainstream of society.
NOUN► actor· The entire cast -- 23 actors portraying inmates portraying fictional characters based on real ones -- inhabit the stage simultaneously.· Yet it is difficult to get past the turkey legs on the actor portraying Alexander.· The actors include Mark Hamill portraying Col.· A great actor portraying a great actor.
► attempt· By 1831 the attempt to portray antislavery in parliament as an exercise in abstract moralism was absent.· Fathers have so rarely done the nurturing that their attempts are either portrayed as heroic or summarily dismissed.
► character· He first described this in Noctambules which showed how the characters portrayed were manipulated by the Hypnotist.· Enough for them to relate to the characters being portrayed.· You will not only be sure of the text, but, more than this, of the character you are portraying.· What can you say about a show where the names of the three actresses sound more manufactured than the characters they portray?· Examples taken from both choreographers' works describe the particular feelings, moods and emotions of the characters their dancers are portraying.· Some of the characters they met are portrayed by Minton in the book.· Situations and characters to be portrayed can be set out for the learner on a worksheet.
► effort· Harmony and collective company effort is portrayed as a reciprocal bargain.· The effort to portray Stern as a prince is relentless.
► image· She has been highly successful and portrays a very positive image, which affects the number of female pupils we attract.· The artist portrayed images of daily life in his native town of Ocotlan with vivid colors, surrealism and magical realism.· Invariably old age is portrayed by the image of an old lady living in obvious poverty and social neglect.· Some of the media were interested only in portraying a violent image of Blackbird Leys.
► life· Working models, videos, pictorial and three dimensional displays portray every aspect of life on the canals.· The artist portrayed images of daily life in his native town of Ocotlan with vivid colors, surrealism and magical realism.· Synod members were under pressure to crack down on gay clergy, who were portrayed as leading lives of wild abandon!· Lugar, 63, has tried to portray his life in politics as merely accidental.· These accounts portray life behind bars as a cruel twist on the Hobbesian description of life: nasty, brutish and long.· They not only portrayed middle-class life and its problems but attacked the corruption and depravity of the nobility.
► man· Thomas portrays Bobby as a man of paradoxes.· Books portraying black men in a positive light are simply not part of the growth industry.
► media· Such negative stereotypes are often reinforced by pervasive media images which portray the young as capable and glamorous.· Despite the overwhelming scientific consensus supporting the existence of global warming, the media often portray it as a controversial scientific debate.
► woman· Berkoff portrays a lonely middle-aged woman who has had more than her fair share of gropes in corners and one-night stands.· In wild expressionist style, the work portrays a slain woman lying at the feet of a grinning king.· Storni does not portray women in general as she does Margara.· Its advertisement portrayed two black women, naked, in chains, and a white man standing over them with a whip.
VERB► seek· If the Tories are seeking to portray Mr Brown as a spendthrift, they are almost certain to fail.
► try· We're trying to portray normal relationships.· Lugar, 63, has tried to portray his life in politics as merely accidental.· Labour will try this week to portray itself as the party of hope, with policies on education, training and health.· That was the ghost figure I was trying to portray.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► portray somebody/something as something
1portray somebody/something as something to describe or show someone or something in a particular way, according to your opinion of them SYN depict: - Liberals are portrayed by the group as sensitive and caring.
- Many fairy tales portray women as victims.
Romantic artists portrayed nature as wild and powerful. The president likes to portray himself as a friend of working people.► see thesaurus at describe2to describe or represent something or someone SYN depict: His most famous painting portrayed the death of Nelson. Religion was portrayed in a negative way.3to act the part of a character in a play, film, or television programme SYN play: She portrays a dancer in the hit film.