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.
For her, Ragsdale was West Kerr County personified. Frank Morris, NPR, 12 July 2025 The Man of Steel, when done right, is kindness and empathy personified, and Corenswet checks those boxes while adding some humor and a little bit of fire, too. 2. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 July 2025 Finally, the bag comes with a set of nail clippers attached to the base of the strap, a reflection of the practical nature and tomboy aesthetic Jane Birkin personified. Laia Farran Graves, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 At its core, Jennifer’s story — presumed dead, her body has never been found — personified every struggling mother’s worst nightmare. Rich Cohen, Rolling Stone, 20 May 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Personify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personify. Accessed 16 Jul. 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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