Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense personifies, present participle personifying, past tense, past participle personified
verb
If you say that someone personifies a particular thing or quality, you mean that they seem to be a perfect example of that thing, or to have that quality to a very large degree.
She seemed to personify goodness and nobility. [VERB noun]
...the world of inter-war decency as personified by Stanley Baldwin. [VERB-ed]
On other occasions she can be charm personified. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: embody, represent, express, mirror More Synonyms of personify
personify in British English
(pɜːˈsɒnɪˌfaɪ)
verbWord forms: -fies, -fying or -fied(transitive)
1.
to attribute human characteristics to (a thing or abstraction)
2.
to represent (an abstract quality) in human or animal form
3.
(of a person or thing) to represent (an abstract quality), as in art or literature
4.
to be the embodiment of
Also (rare): personize, personise
Derived forms
personifiable (perˈsoniˌfiable)
adjective
personifier (perˈsoniˌfier)
noun
personify in American English
(pərˈsɑnəˌfaɪ)
verb transitiveWord forms: perˈsoniˌfied or perˈsoniˌfying
1.
to think or speak of (a thing) as having life or personality; represent as a person
to personify a ship by referring to it as “she”
2.
to symbolize (an abstract idea) by a human figure, as in art
3.
to be a symbol or perfect example of (some quality, thing, or idea); typify; embody
Derived forms
personifier (perˈsoniˌfier)
noun
Word origin
Fr personifier: see person & -fy
Examples of 'personify' in a sentence
personify
The bitterness disappeared and she was charm personified.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And on the podium he was charm personified, thanking the fans and praising the organisers for putting on such a good show.
The Sun (2012)
For Frost is charm personified.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
personify
British English: personify VERB
If you say that someone personifies a particular thing or quality, you mean that they seem to be a perfect example of that thing, or to have that quality to a very large degree.
She seemed to personify goodness and nobility.
American English: personify
Brazilian Portuguese: personificar
Chinese: 是…的化身
European Spanish: encarnar
French: personnifier
German: personifizieren
Italian: personificare
Japanese: 象徴する
Korean: ~의 화신이 되다
European Portuguese: personificar
Latin American Spanish: encarnar
Chinese translation of 'personify'
personify
(pəːˈsɔnɪfaɪ)
vt
(= embody) 是 ... 的化身 (shì ... de huàshēn)
(= represent)[quality]象征(徵) (xiàngzhēng)
(verb)
Definition
to be the embodiment of
She seemed to personify goodness and nobility.
Synonyms
embody
Jack Kennedy embodied all the hopes of the 1960s.
represent
He represents everything that is wrong with the modern world.
express
He expressed his anger in a destructive way.
mirror
exemplify
The character exemplifies doubt and emotional turmoil.
symbolize
The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of the Cold War.
typify
These buildings typify the rich extremes of the local architecture.
incarnate
image (rare)
epitomize
The goddess Selene epitomized perfect motherhood.
body forth
Additional synonyms
in the sense of epitomize
Definition
to be or make a perfect or typical example of
The goddess Selene epitomized perfect motherhood.
Synonyms
typify,
represent,
illustrate,
embody,
exemplify,
symbolize,
personify,
incarnate
in the sense of exemplify
Definition
to serve as an example of
The character exemplifies doubt and emotional turmoil.
Synonyms
show,
represent,
display,
demonstrate,
instance,
illustrate,
exhibit,
depict,
manifest,
evidence,
embody,
serve as an example of
in the sense of express
Definition
to show (an idea or feeling)
He expressed his anger in a destructive way.
Synonyms
show,
indicate,
exhibit,
demonstrate,
reveal,
disclose,
intimate,
convey,
testify to,
depict,
designate,
manifest,
embody,
signify,
symbolize,
denote,
divulge,
bespeak,
make known,
evince (formal)
Nearby words of
personify
personally
personate
personification
personify
personnel
perspective
perspicacious
Synonyms of 'personify'
personify
Explore 'personify' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of represent
Definition
to display the characteristics of
He represents everything that is wrong with the modern world.
Synonyms
exemplify,
embody,
symbolize,
typify,
personify,
epitomize
in the sense of symbolize
Definition
to be a symbol of (something)
The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of the Cold War.
Synonyms
represent,
signify,
stand for,
mean,
exemplify,
denote,
typify,
personify,
connote,
betoken,
body forth
in the sense of typify
Definition
to be typical of or characterize
These buildings typify the rich extremes of the local architecture.