What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
depicted
Example
The artist depicted a beautiful sunset in her painting. [depicted: verb]
Example
The novel vividly depicted the struggles of a young immigrant family. [depicted: past tense]
Example
The news article depicted the politician as corrupt and dishonest. [depicted: past participle]
illustrated
Example
The children's book was beautifully illustrated with colorful pictures. [illustrated: past tense]
Example
The teacher illustrated the concept of gravity using a simple experiment. [illustrated: verb]
Example
The speaker illustrated her point with a powerful anecdote. [illustrated: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Illustrated is more commonly used than depicted in everyday language, especially in educational or instructional contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between depicted and illustrated?
Both depicted and illustrated are relatively formal words, but illustrated is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
