What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
portrayed
Example
The actor portrayed the villain in the movie. [portrayed: verb]
Example
The article portrayed the politician as corrupt. [portrayed: past tense]
Example
The painting portrays a beautiful sunset over the ocean. [portrays: present tense]
represent
Example
The eagle represents freedom and strength in American culture. [represents: verb]
Example
The lawyer represented the defendant in court. [represented: past tense]
Example
The graph represents the growth of the company over the past year. [represents: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Represent is more commonly used than portrayed in everyday language. Represent is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while portrayed is less common and refers to a specific type of depiction.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between portrayed and represent?
Represent can have a more formal or serious connotation compared to portrayed, which can be more neutral or positive in tone.
