portrait
PAWT-rayt
Portrait (noun) means a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person, usually focused on the face and shoulders. Example: “She hung a framed portrait of her grandfather above the fireplace.”
noun
1
A painting, drawing, or photograph of a person, usually focused on the face and shoulders.
"She hung a framed portrait of her grandfather above the fireplace."
"The museum displayed a portrait of the queen."
"He commissioned a portrait of his grandmother."
2
A vivid, accurate description of a person, mood, or situation.
"The documentary gives an honest portrait of life on a busy hospital ward."
"Her letters offer a warm portrait of the writer as a young mother."
"The novel paints a vivid portrait of small-town life."
adj
1
Describing a page or image oriented taller than it is wide.
"Hold your phone in portrait mode if you want the photo to be tall."
"The poster is portrait format, so it fits the narrow wall perfectly."
"Print the document in portrait, not landscape."
How to use portrait
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA picture of a person, a vivid description, or a tall (not wide) page layout.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
portrait mode
paint a portrait
self-portrait
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Word forms
- Plural
- portraits
- Third person singular
- portraits
- Past tense
- portraited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She hung a framed _____ of her grandfather above the fireplace.
Etymology
From Middle French portraict, based on portraire ("to portray"), from Latin protrahere.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for portrait
See all rhymes for portrait →Frequently asked questions
What does “portrait” mean?
The word “portrait” means a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person, usually focused on the face and shoulders. In plain terms, a picture of a person, a vivid description, or a tall (not wide) page layout.
How do you pronounce “portrait”?
“Portrait” is pronounced PAWT-rayt (/ˈpɔɹtɹət/ in IPA).
How do you use “portrait” in a sentence?
Here is “portrait” used in a sentence: “The museum displayed a portrait of the queen.”
What is the opposite of “portrait”?
The opposite of “portrait” — its antonyms — are landscape and profile.
What part of speech is “portrait”?
Depending on how it is used, “portrait” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “portrait” come from?
The word “portrait” comes from Latin. From Middle French portraict, based on portraire ("to portray"), from Latin protrahere.
Is “portrait” a common word?
“Portrait” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “portrait” have?
“Portrait” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person, usually focused on the face and shoulders.
What is the difference between portrait and landscape orientation?
In page and screen layout, portrait orientation is taller than it is wide, while landscape orientation is wider than it is tall. The term borrows from portraits of people, which are usually taller than they are wide.
What is the difference between a portrait and a profile?
A portrait usually shows a person facing forward or at an angle, focused on the face and shoulders, whereas a profile shows the side view of the face. A profile can also mean a short written description of someone.
What is the difference between a portrait and a self-portrait?
A portrait is an image of a person made by an artist or photographer, while a self-portrait is one that artists make of themselves.
Can 'portrait' describe writing as well as pictures?
Yes. Besides a painted, drawn, or photographed image, a portrait can be a vivid, accurate description in words of a person, a mood, or a situation.
