personify
gb/pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪ/ us/pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪ/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
C1
action
1
embody a quality or idea
If someone personifies a quality, they show it very clearly.
Usage pattern:
[someone] personifies [quality/idea/type]
Common mistake:
Don’t use it to mean simply “be” or “have”; it suggests being a strong, typical example (often in a slightly formal tone).
Synonyms
embody (Often slightly more neutral and common in formal writing.)
|
epitomize (Emphasizes being the best or most typical example.)
|
represent (Can be weaker and more general than personify.)
Antonyms
contradict (To show behavior that goes against the quality rather than exemplifying it.)
Collocations
personify courage
|personify kindness
|personify professionalism
|personify elegance
|personify confidence
|personify the spirit of [something]
|personify the ideal of [something]
|personify [something] for [someone]
|perfectly personify
|truly personify
Themes
describing_people
|character
|communication
Examples
- She personifies calm under pressure.
- For many fans, he personifies what it means to be a great captain.
- The company’s new CEO personifies the brand’s focus on innovation.
Learner examples
- My teacher personifies patience.
- He personifies honesty.
Verb
literary
C1
action
2
give human qualities to things
To talk about something non-human as if it were a person.
Usage pattern:
[writer/speaker] personifies [thing/idea]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with “personalize” (make something suited to a person) or “identify” (recognize).
Synonyms
anthropomorphize (More technical; often used for animals/objects being made human-like.)
|
humanize (Broader; can mean making something seem more human or relatable.)
Antonyms
depersonalize (To remove personal or human features; the opposite effect in description.)
Collocations
personify nature
|personify death
|personify fate
|personify fear
|personify the wind
|personify the sea
|personify an emotion
|personify an abstract concept
|personify [something] as [someone]
|often personified
Themes
literature
|arts
|language
Examples
- The poet personifies the city as a tired old man.
- In the story, the storm is personified as an angry giant.
- The advertisement personifies the computer as a helpful friend.
Learner examples
- The book personifies the sun as a smiling face.
Verb
formal
C1
action
3
represent as a human figure
To show an idea as a person in art or stories.
Usage pattern:
[something] is personified (as/in) [person/figure]
Common mistake:
This is not the same as “impersonate” (pretend to be a real person); it usually refers to symbols or ideas.
Synonyms
depict (General word for showing something in art; does not specifically imply a human figure.)
|
portray (Often used for representation in art or performance; less specific than personify.)
Antonyms
abstract (To treat or show something as an idea rather than as a human figure.)
Collocations
personify liberty
|personify justice
|personify a nation
|personify a city
|personified as a woman
|personified as a warrior
|traditionally personified
|often personified in art
|classically personified
|personified figure
Themes
arts
|history
|media
Examples
- In classical art, Victory is often personified as a winged woman.
- The painting personifies Spring as a young girl holding flowers.
- The statue personifies Justice with scales and a blindfold.
Learner examples
- In this picture, hope is personified as a child.
Grammar
Dictionary form
personify
IPA
GB/pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪ/
US/pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪ/
Syllables & stress
per - son - i - fy (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (per)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: personify
- 3rd Person Singular: personifies
- Present Participle: personifying
- Past: personified
Word family
Forms
personifies
verb
personifying
verb
personified
verb
Core family
personification
noun C1
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
impersonal
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
Expressions
be personified as [someone/something]
1/bˈi pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪd ˈæz sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
be shown as a person
To be shown as a person.
Examples
- In the poem, time is personified as a thief.
- Love is often personified as a child with wings.
- In the logo, the brand is personified as a friendly character.
be personified in [someone/something]
1/bˈi pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪd ˈɪn sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
be embodied in someone
To be shown very clearly by someone.
Examples
- That sense of service is personified in the volunteers who show up every weekend.
- The team’s new direction is personified in its youngest players.
- For many, the era is personified in her voice.