represent

[ rep-ri-zent ]

/ ˌrɛp rɪˈzɛnt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR represent ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

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.

to express or designate by some term, character, symbol, or the like: to represent musical sounds by notes.

to stand or act in the place of, as a substitute, proxy, or agent does: He represents the company in Boston.

to speak and act for by delegated authority: to represent one's government in a foreign country.

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.

to portray or depict; present the likeness of, as a picture does: The painting represents him as a man 22 years old.

to present or picture to the mind.

to present in words; set forth; describe; state.

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.

to set forth clearly or earnestly with a view to influencing opinion or action or making protest.

to present, produce, or perform, as on a stage.

to impersonate, as in acting.

to serve as an example or specimen of; exemplify: a genus represented by two species.

to be the equivalent of; correspond to: The llama of the New World represents the camel of the Old World.

verb (used without object)

to protest; make representations against.

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.

Nearby words

reprehend, reprehensible, reprehension, reprehensive, reprehensively, represent, representation, representational, representationalism, representative, representatives

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

SYNONYMS FOR represent

1 exemplify.

6 delineate.

12 portray.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR represent ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

rep·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

Definition for represent (2 of 2)

re-present

[ ree-pri-zent ]

/ ˌri prɪˈzɛnt /

verb (used with object)

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for represent

Republicans loathe public sector unions—unless they represent cops or firefighters.
The GOP and Police Unions: A Love Story|Eleanor Clift|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This year will represent the 20th anniversary of the first Running of the Santas.
Before the Bros, SantaCon Was as an Anti-Corporate Protest|David Freedlander|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For example, 51 percent of North Carolinians voted that year for a Democrat to represent them in Congress.
Seriously, Democrats: You’re Done in Dixie|Michael Tomasky|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In their elitism and sense of entitlement, they represent much of what liberals are supposed to despise.
The Rise and Fall of Chris Hughes and Sean Eldridge, America’s Worst Gay Power Couple|James Kirchick|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Experts generally consider known mortality to represent about half of actual grizzly bear deaths for the ecosystem.
What It Takes to Kill a Grizzly Bear|Doug Peacock|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hence the complete picture they give of life is of necessity fallacious: they can only represent what is unusual.
A Chesterton Calendar|G. K. Chesterton
A variety of symbols is here employed to represent the judgment to be inflicted.
Notes On The Apocalypse|David Steele
This, after some pondering, I concluded to represent Pygmalion, as he awaited the quickening of his statue.
Phantastes|George MacDonald
There comes a break in the Record of the Rocks that may represent several million years.
A Short History of the World|H. G. Wells
It is very convenient to represent an electric field by means of what are called lines of electric force.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia|Various

British Dictionary definitions for represent (1 of 2)

represent

/ (ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt) /

verb (tr)

to stand as an equivalent of; correspond toour tent represents home to us when we go camping

to act as a substitute or proxy (for)

to act as or be the authorized delegate or agent for (a person, country, etc)an MP represents his constituency

to serve or use as a means of expressingletters represent the sounds of speech

to exhibit the characteristics of; exemplify; typifyromanticism in music is represented by Beethoven

to present an image of through the medium of a picture or sculpture; portray

to bring clearly before the mind

to set forth in words; state or explain

to describe as having a specified character or quality; make out to behe represented her as a saint

to act out the part of on stage; portray

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

British Dictionary definitions for represent (2 of 2)

re-present

/ (ˌriːprɪˈzɛnt) /

verb

(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 (1 of 2)

represent

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.

Word Origin and History for represent (1 of 2)

re-present

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

represent

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of represent

Definition for represent (2 of 2)

re-present

verb (used with object)

Origin of re-present

Examples from the Web for represent

British Dictionary definitions for represent (1 of 2)

represent

verb (tr)

Word Origin for represent

British Dictionary definitions for represent (2 of 2)

re-present

verb

Word Origin and History for represent (1 of 2)

represent

Word Origin and History for represent (1 of 2)

re-present