Synonyms

represent

American

[rep-ri-zent] / ˌrɛp rɪˈzɛnt /

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.

Synonyms:

exemplify
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.

Synonyms:

delineate
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.

Synonyms:

portray
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.

represent British

/ ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt /

verb

to stand as an equivalent of; correspond to

our 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 expressing

letters represent the sounds of speech
to exhibit the characteristics of; exemplify; typify

romanticism 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 be

he represented her as a saint
to act out the part of on stage; portray
to perform or produce (a play); stage

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

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.

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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.

See Examples For:

represent represents represented representing

These technologies allowed the researchers to identify six distinct tissue domains that appeared to represent different stages of Alzheimer's progression.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

Scalia said the justices do not represent the full country.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

And does women making the first move really represent genuine progress towards equality?

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Earlier this month, the judge ruled that Sandy was “incapacitated”—meaning that she is unable to “adequately protect” her rights—and appointed a guardian to represent her.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

This was a big mistake—probably the very response that Ferdinand had been trying to provoke, so that he could represent the Protestants as unruly troublemakers.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

French lawyer Vincent Brengarth, who represents NGOs alleging war crimes in Sudan, said Chad's withdrawal undermined the prospects of those responsible being brought to justice.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

The act was opposed by the Real Estate Board of New York, a lobbying group that represents the real-estate industry, including brokers.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

Universities UK, which represents more than 140 higher education institutions, said universities were working to improve support, reporting and campus safety for Jewish students.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Paramount scored one victory: The European Commission gave its blessing for the merger to go forward in the European countries it represents.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

Marguerite, who represents Mary Magdalene, falls to her knees, for she recognizes the resurrected Christ.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Together, the strains represented a degree of genetic diversity comparable to that found among human populations.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026

The London-based light-middleweight represented England as an amateur before turning professional after receiving a work permit.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Yet physicians would join only if the AMA more faithfully represented their views.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

Bernie Sanders, the nation’s most prominent identified democratic socialist, has represented Vermont in the House or the Senate since 1990.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026

To Collins, Bobby represented a second existence—the boy’s career was a vicarious entry to a level of chess mastery he himself would never achieve.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

One lawmaker my organization met is New York Assemblywoman Chantel Jackson, a Democrat representing the Bronx.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Now, Realtor.com has learned that the deal has officially closed at a much higher price, with Thomas Atamian of Coldwell Banker Realty representing Duhamel, while Andrew Pearce with Sotheby’s International Realty worked with the buyer.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

Shakeel Mohamed, 61, has been representing the Yashio mosque in Saitama prefecture for the past decade.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

"I'm very excited. It's my first senior Games so I'm just looking forward to representing Scotland and doing my absolute best," McCann told Loughborough University earlier this week, external.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Orienting herself from there, she locates another, gently pushing open the paper door to find a ring of tiny chairs representing her own performance space.

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