depicted; depicting; depicts

transitive verb

1
: to represent by or as if by a picture
a mural depicting a famous battle
2
: describe sense 1
the way the novelist depicts his female characters

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Depict and Depiction

If you depict someone or something, you show what that person or thing is like—either in some kind of image (such as a drawing, painting, photograph, or movie), or with words.

What results from your efforts to depict that person or thing can be called a depiction. The noun depiction is included at this entry without a definition because its meaning can be easily understood from the definition of the verb—it's the act of, or an instance of, depicting something or someone—but some examples of depiction in a sentence might be helpful:

The depiction of the battle in the painting is not historically correct.

I think the novel is a good depiction of a typical modern American marriage.

Many were moved by the film's depictions of animals helping people.

The author's depiction of the practice as uncommon is problematic; it's done by millions of people throughout the world every day.

The essay is an honest depiction of life in the city.

The book is fascinating in its depiction of the country's early history.

Examples of depict in a Sentence

The wall was painted with a large mural depicting famous scenes from American history. Several of the architect's most famous buildings will soon be depicted on postage stamps. The photograph depicts the two brothers standing in front of a store. Angels are usually depicted with wings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Outside those values, the objects depicted weren’t easily recognizable as trees. Katie Hunt, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025 According to The Guardian, the Ambanis sent an engraved box depicting a Hindu deity that was filled with gifts and played Hindu mantras as a wedding invitation. Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025 Warfare opens with a statement explaining that all events depicted are from memory alone, and both Garland and Mendoza worked with multiple people who’d been there that day to bring as much accuracy as possible. Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025 An oil study depicting a lion has officially been attributed to Eugène Delacroix, a key figure of the Romanticist movement of the 19th century, and will now head to sale in France. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for depict

Word History

Etymology

Latin depictus, past participle of depingere, from de- + pingere to paint — more at paint

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of depict was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Depict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depict. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

1
: to represent by a picture
2
: to describe in words

More from Merriam-Webster on depict

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