represent
Americanverb (used with object)
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to serve to express, designate, stand for, or denote, as a word, symbol, or the like does; symbolize.
In this painting the cat represents evil and the bird, good.
- Synonyms:
- exemplify
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to express or designate by some term, character, symbol, or the like.
to represent musical sounds by notes.
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to stand or act in the place of, as a substitute, proxy, or agent does.
He represents the company in Boston.
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to speak and act for by delegated authority.
to represent one's government in a foreign country.
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to act for or in behalf of (a constituency, state, etc.) by deputed right in exercising a voice in legislation or government.
He represents Chicago's third Congressional district.
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to portray or depict; present the likeness of, as a picture does.
The painting represents him as a man 22 years old.
- Synonyms:
- delineate
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to present or picture to the mind.
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to present in words; set forth; describe; state.
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to set forth or describe as having a particular character (usually followed by as, to be, etc.).
The article represented the dictator as a benevolent despot.
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to set forth clearly or earnestly with a view to influencing opinion or action or making protest.
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to present, produce, or perform, as on a stage.
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to impersonate, as in acting.
- Synonyms:
- portray
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to serve as an example or specimen of; exemplify.
a genus represented by two species.
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to be the equivalent of; correspond to.
The llama of the New World represents the camel of the Old World.
verb (used without object)
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to protest; make representations against.
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Slang. to use or display a secret handshake, sign, gesture, etc., for purposes of identification.
The gang members always represent when they see one another.
verb
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to stand as an equivalent of; correspond to
our tent represents home to us when we go camping
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to act as a substitute or proxy (for)
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to act as or be the authorized delegate or agent for (a person, country, etc)
an MP represents his constituency
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to serve or use as a means of expressing
letters represent the sounds of speech
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to exhibit the characteristics of; exemplify; typify
romanticism in music is represented by Beethoven
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to present an image of through the medium of a picture or sculpture; portray
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to bring clearly before the mind
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to set forth in words; state or explain
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to describe as having a specified character or quality; make out to be
he represented her as a saint
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to act out the part of on stage; portray
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to perform or produce (a play); stage
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of represent
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English representen, from Middle French representer, from Latin repraesentāre “to bring about immediately, make present,” equivalent to re- re- ( def. ) + praesentāre “to present 2 ( def. ) ”
Explanation
Use the word represent when something stands in for something else — whether it's your congressman representing your interests in Washington or the thimble that represents you as it makes its way around the Monopoly board. We live in a democracy in which we elect a few people to represent the wishes and desires of the rest of us. Their job is literally to "re-present" the voters' demands in Congress. That's why we call them our "representatives." In the world of art, however, to represent something can mean to express its essence by means of something different. For example a ball of string can represent, or symbolize, a cat.
Vocabulary lists containing represent
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 3
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List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In an aging society, young families represent a potential long-term asset as homeowners, taxpayers, employers, donors, volunteers—and parents.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
Researchers are especially interested in Psyche because it may represent the exposed metallic core of an ancient planetesimal, a building block of planets that formed early in the solar system's history.
From Science Daily • May 23, 2026
Details of the conviction were not aired during the campaign, which saw Beck elected to represent the Thatto Heath ward on St Helens Council.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
“I do not represent a party. I don’t have a campaign manager. I don’t have a campaign consultant. There’s no political party backing me,” he told NBC4.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
“It is meant to represent you, in your reading,” she says.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
