to pretend to be someone else, especially in order to deceive others, to act a part or character in a play or film

Formal and Informal Expressions of personate

In different contexts, you can replace 'personate' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'impersonate' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'pretend, act like' is a commonplace synonym.

personate: Explore its Definition & Usage

personate Definition

1to pretend to be someone else, especially in order to deceive others
2to act a part or character in a play or film

Using personate: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "personate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
He was arrested for trying to personate a police officer.
Example
She can personate a wide range of characters with ease.
Example
The actor was praised for his ability to personate the historical figure accurately.

personate Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for personate

Phrases with personate

personate oneself
to pretend to be someone else, often in order to deceive others
Example
He personated himself as a doctor and gave false medical advice to his patients.
personate a character
to act a part or character in a play or film
Example
She is known for her ability to personate a variety of characters on stage.
personate an accent
to imitate or mimic a particular accent or way of speaking
Example
He can personate a British accent so convincingly that people often mistake him for a native speaker.

Origins of personate

from Latin 'personare', meaning 'to sound through'

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Summary: personate in Brief

The verb 'personate' [ˈpɜːsəneɪt] means to pretend to be someone else, especially in order to deceive others, or to act a part or character in a play or film. It is often used in legal contexts to refer to impersonation. Examples include 'He was arrested for trying to personate a police officer.' and 'She can personate a wide range of characters with ease.'