represent
Americanverb (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.
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
Other Word Forms
- nonrepresentable adjective
- prerepresent verb (used with object)
- representability noun
- representable adjective
- unrepresentable adjective
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. ) ”
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.
“While McCormick’s M&A track record is a positive precedent, the scale of this potential transaction represents a substantially greater order of magnitude,” Powers wrote on Tuesday.
From Barron's
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the coming days of the conflict would be decisive, and that the number of projectiles launched by Iran in the past 24 hours represented the lowest during the war.
Through a trust, he also indirectly controls voting shares that represent nearly 46 million common shares upon conversion.
From MarketWatch
Anthony White KC, who represented Associated in court, said many of the most damaging allegations would no longer be sustainable.
From BBC
Combining its operations with Unilever’s sprawling food business—which generates about $12 billion in annual sales—represents its most ambitious deal so far.
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.
