Meaning & use
depict artistically
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Meanings
phrasetransitive
to show or describe someone or something in a way that uses creative skill and imagination, especially in art
Grammar: Takes an object: depict a scene artistically. The adverb artistically comes after the object or after the verb.
Patterns
- depict something artistically
- depict someone artistically
- artistically depicted
The filmmaker depicts the city artistically, using slow shots and soft light.
She has artistically depicted her grandmother's garden in a series of oil paintings.
The novel artistically depicts the loneliness of modern life.
phrasetransitive
to represent an idea or feeling in a beautiful or imaginative way rather than a literal one
Grammar: Often used about abstract things like emotions or memories: depict grief artistically.
Patterns
- depict something artistically
- be artistically depicted
The dance piece artistically depicts the pain of separation.
Hope is artistically depicted as a small light in the darkness.
Common combinations
- artistically depict a scene
- The mural artistically depicts a busy market scene.
- be artistically depicted
- The war is artistically depicted through a child's drawings.
- depict something artistically rather than realistically
- The director chose to depict the story artistically rather than realistically.
- artistically depict an emotion
- The composer artistically depicts joy in the final movement.
Synonyms and how they differ
- portray
- Portray is more neutral and often used for realistic representation; depict artistically stresses creative, imaginative treatment.
- represent
- Represent is broader and can be literal or symbolic; depict artistically suggests a deliberate aesthetic choice.
- illustrate
- Illustrate often means to explain with pictures or examples; depict artistically focuses on artistic expression.
Opposites
Word family
- depiction noun
- the act of showing or describing something in art or words
- depict verb
- to show or describe someone or something in a picture or story
- artistic adjective
- relating to art or showing creative skill
- artistically adverb
- in a way that shows creative skill
Commonly confused: depict artistically or depict?
depict artistically vs depict
Depict alone means to show or describe; depict artistically adds the idea of doing so with artistic skill.
Practice
The director chose to ______ the war artistically, using dreamlike images instead of realistic battle scenes.
Choose one answer.
After 'chose to', we need the base form of the verb, so 'depict' is correct. 'Depicts' is the third-person singular form and cannot follow 'to'; 'depicting' and 'depicted' are not used after 'to' in this structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “depict artistically”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.