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

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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

A No 10 spokeswoman said Helm was "an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity".

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

The models, which are part of its Nemotron family, represent Nvidia’s latest efforts to deliver innovation in open-weight or open-source models—and serve as a boon for the American open-model effort.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Scientists are continuing to track the ice each year to determine whether these declines represent a lasting transformation in Antarctic sea ice conditions or fall within the range of statistical variability.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Intocable are just such legends, and they truly represent the best of both Texas and Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

My eyes fill with angry tears again, and wipe them away, hating them and what they represent.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

No dichotomy better represents Berlant’s razor-sharp, thoroughly tasteful wit, which sits halfway between refined humorist and go-for-broke court jester.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

Glori’s character also represents a refreshing departure from the way Latina women are often portrayed onscreen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

The deal, slated to in the first quarter of 2027, represents a premium of 8.8% to Wednesday’s closing price of $194.79 for Penske Automotive.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

That represents a reduction of more than half from the original median pain score, with benefits that were still apparent a full year after treatment.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026

But for the individuals caught up in it—for Galileo, Hooke, Boyle and their colleagues—it represents a series of sudden, urgent transformations.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

While he was yet to earn senior international honours, Andrews had represented the Junior Springboks in 2015.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

It was not immediately clear whether the men were represented by attorneys.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

These problems compound when a model is working in a language that is less represented in A.I. training data.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

But that figure only represented only a fraction of what he was due over the remainder of his contract.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

A single vertical mark represented a unit, while a heel bone represented 10, a swirly snare stood for 100, and so on.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Their search produced a list of 20 exceptionally large individuals representing 18 different species.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Proofpoint will pay $49.75 a share for Varonis, representing a 52% premium over the stock’s June 22 closing price.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

In 1997, Donaldson became the MP for Lagan Valley, representing the UUP.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

"This is not the first time that there are no ambassadors, in Greece or other countries in Europe, representing the US or other states for some months," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Here is the difference between Brunelleschi’s studies and Masaccio’s painting: Brunelleschi was representing reality; Masaccio is representing an imaginary space.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023