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definitions

represent

[rep-ri-zent]
See more synonyms for represent on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. 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.
  2. to express or designate by some term, character, symbol, or the like: to represent musical sounds by notes.
  3. to stand or act in the place of, as a substitute, proxy, or agent does: He represents the company in Boston.
  4. to speak and act for by delegated authority: to represent one's government in a foreign country.
  5. 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.
  6. to portray or depict; present the likeness of, as a picture does: The painting represents him as a man 22 years old.
  7. to present or picture to the mind.
  8. to present in words; set forth; describe; state.
  9. 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.
  10. to set forth clearly or earnestly with a view to influencing opinion or action or making protest.
  11. to present, produce, or perform, as on a stage.
  12. to impersonate, as in acting.
  13. to serve as an example or specimen of; exemplify: a genus represented by two species.
  14. to be the equivalent of; correspond to: The llama of the New World represents the camel of the Old World.
verb (used without object)
  1. to protest; make representations against.
  2. 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.

Origin of represent

1325–75; Middle English representen < Middle French representer < Latin repraesentāre to bring about immediately, make present, equivalent to re- re- + praesentāre to present2
Related formsrep·re·sent·a·ble, adjectiverep·re·sent·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·rep·re·sent·a·ble, adjectivepre·rep·re·sent, verb (used with object)un·rep·re·sent·a·ble, adjective
Can be confusedre-present represent

Synonyms for represent

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com
1. exemplify. 6. delineate. 12. portray.

re-present

[ree-pri-zent]
verb (used with object)
  1. to present again or anew.

Origin of re-present

First recorded in 1555–65; re- + present2
Can be confusedre-present represent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for represent

show, perform, serve, produce, mean, portray, suggest, describe, mirror, display, illustrate, exemplify, be, exhibit, imitate, express, body, betoken, equal, reproduce

Examples from the Web for represent

Contemporary Examples of represent

Historical Examples of represent

British Dictionary definitions for represent

represent

verb (tr)
  1. to stand as an equivalent of; correspond toour tent represents home to us when we go camping
  2. to act as a substitute or proxy (for)
  3. to act as or be the authorized delegate or agent for (a person, country, etc)an MP represents his constituency
  4. to serve or use as a means of expressingletters represent the sounds of speech
  5. to exhibit the characteristics of; exemplify; typifyromanticism in music is represented by Beethoven
  6. to present an image of through the medium of a picture or sculpture; portray
  7. to bring clearly before the mind
  8. to set forth in words; state or explain
  9. to describe as having a specified character or quality; make out to behe represented her as a saint
  10. to act out the part of on stage; portray
  11. to perform or produce (a play); stage
Derived Formsrepresentable, adjectiverepresentability, noun

Word Origin for represent

C14: from Latin repraesentāre to exhibit, from re- + praesentāre to present ²

re-present

verb
  1. (tr) to present again
Derived Formsre-presentation (ˌriːprɛzənˈteɪʃən), noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for represent
v.

late 14c., "to bring to mind by description," also "to symbolize, serve as a sign or symbol of; serve as the type or embodiment of;" from Old French representer "present, show, portray" (12c.), from Latin repraesentare "make present, set in view, show, exhibit, display," from re-, intensive prefix (see re-), + praesentare "to present," literally "to place before" (see present (v.)). Legislative sense is attested from 1650s. Related: Represented; representing.

re-present

v.

"to offer again," 1560s, from re- + present (v.). Related: Re-presented; re-presenting; re-presentation.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper