personify

verb

per·​son·​i·​fy pər-ˈsä-nə-ˌfī How to pronounce personify (audio)
personified; personifying

transitive verb

1
: to conceive of or represent as a person or as having human qualities or powers
2
: to be the embodiment or personification of : incarnate
a teacher who personified patience
personifier noun

Examples of personify in a Sentence

The ancient Greeks personified the forces of nature as gods and goddesses. Justice is personified as a woman with her eyes covered.
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.
In Baltimore, the System was personified by Donald Pomerleau, a former marine who would serve as the city’s police commissioner from 1966 to 1981. Marc J. Dunkelman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025 Among those embracing their moment is the slight Ms. Powell, who personifies both the sorry-not-sorry posture of many Jan. 6 participants and the steep price paid for their fealty to Mr. Trump. Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025 This was perhaps best personified in a 1992 sketch that saw Clinton take an extended break from his jog to greet Americans at his local McDonalds. Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025 The career of Napoleon Bonaparte, a young upstart, personified the new reliance on personal ambition and, ironically, his dictatorship was a made possible by the liberalizing military reforms that enabled his ascent. Marjoleine Kars, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for personify

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of personify was in 1728

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Cite this Entry

“Personify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personify. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

personify

verb
per·​son·​i·​fy pər-ˈsän-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce personify (audio)
personified; personifying
1
: to think of or represent as a person
personify the forces of nature
2
: to be the perfect example of
she personified kindness

More from Merriam-Webster on personify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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