personify
gb/pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪ/ us/pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪ/
C1
Inglés
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Verbo
C1
action
1
embody a quality or idea
If someone personifies a quality, they show it very clearly.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] personifies [quality/idea/type]
Error frecuente:
Don’t use it to mean simply “be” or “have”; it suggests being a strong, typical example (often in a slightly formal tone).
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
contradict (To show behavior that goes against the quality rather than exemplifying it.)
Colocaciones
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
Temas
describing_people
|character
|communication
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- My teacher personifies patience.
- He personifies honesty.
Verbo
literary
C1
action
2
give human qualities to things
To talk about something non-human as if it were a person.
Patrón de uso:
[writer/speaker] personifies [thing/idea]
Error frecuente:
Don’t confuse with “personalize” (make something suited to a person) or “identify” (recognize).
Sinónimos
anthropomorphize (More technical; often used for animals/objects being made human-like.)
|
humanize (Broader; can mean making something seem more human or relatable.)
Antónimos
depersonalize (To remove personal or human features; the opposite effect in description.)
Colocaciones
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
Temas
literature
|arts
|language
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The book personifies the sun as a smiling face.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
3
represent as a human figure
To show an idea as a person in art or stories.
Patrón de uso:
[something] is personified (as/in) [person/figure]
Error frecuente:
This is not the same as “impersonate” (pretend to be a real person); it usually refers to symbols or ideas.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
abstract (To treat or show something as an idea rather than as a human figure.)
Colocaciones
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
Temas
arts
|history
|media
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- In this picture, hope is personified as a child.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
personify
AFI
GB/pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪ/
US/pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪ/
Sílabas y acento
per - son - i - fy (4 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (per)
Formas de la palabra
Verb
- Base: personify
- 3rd Person Singular: personifies
- Present Participle: personifying
- Past: personified
Familia de palabras
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
Expresiones
be personified as [someone/something]
1/bˈi pɚsˈɑnəfˌaɪd ˈæz sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
be shown as a person
To be shown as a person.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.