impersonify

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To personify: "impersonify" means to embody or represent a quality, concept, or thing in human form; to be the perfect example of something.
   • To incarnate: It can also mean to give a concrete or visible form to an abstract idea.

Usage Examples

• (She embodies grace and elegance perfectly.)
• (The statue represents justice in human form.)

Advanced Usage

• "to impersonify a virtue": to be the living embodiment of a moral quality.

  • His kindness impersonifies the spirit of charity. (His kindness is a perfect example of charitable spirit.)

• "to impersonify an era": to represent the typical characteristics of a historical period.

  • The actor impersonified the 1920s flapper in her performance. (She perfectly embodied the style and attitude of that decade.)

Variants and Related Words

• Impersonation (n): the act of pretending to be another person for entertainment or deception.

  • His impersonation of the president was hilarious. (His imitation was very funny.)

• Impersonator (n): a person who imitates another, especially for entertainment.

  • The celebrity impersonator performed at the party. (The performer imitated famous people.)

Synonyms

• Embody: to give a tangible or visible form to an idea or quality.
• Personify: to represent an abstract quality in human form.
• Incarnate: to make something abstract concrete or real.

Related Idioms

• The very picture of: to be a perfect example of something.

  • She was the very picture of health after her recovery. (She looked perfectly healthy.)

• A walking embodiment of: a person who perfectly represents a quality.

  • He is a walking embodiment of patience. (He is extremely patient.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Take on: to assume a quality or form.

  • The character takes on the traits of a hero. (The character embodies heroic qualities.)

• Stand for: to represent or symbolize.

  • The dove stands for peace. (The dove symbolizes peace.)