represent

[ rep-ri-zent ]

/ ˌrɛp rɪˈzɛnt /

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See synonyms for: represent / re-presented / re-presenting / re-presents 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR represent

1 exemplify.

6 delineate.

12 portray.

See synonyms for represent on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM represent

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH represent

re-present, represent

Other definitions 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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH re-present

re-present , represent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use represent in a sentence

What is not determinable is not representable: of "becoming in general" I have only a verbal knowledge.
Creative Evolution|Henri Bergson
Myths arose to make this strange ambiguity of human nature more easily representable in the mind.
The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life|Emile Durkheim
Take away the name and the sign which materializes it, and the clan is no longer representable.
The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life|Emile Durkheim
One of William Hunt's peaches; not, I am afraid, imaginable altogether, but still less representable by figure.
The Crown of Wild Olive|John Ruskin

It is represented or at least representable, before its realization.
Bergson and His Philosophy|J. Alexander Gunn

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 forms of represent

representable, 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 forms of re-present

re-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

represent

OTHER WORDS FOR represent

Origin of represent

OTHER WORDS FROM represent

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH represent

Other definitions for represent (2 of 2)

Origin of re-present

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH re-present

Words related to represent

How to use represent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for represent (1 of 2)

Derived forms of represent

Word Origin for represent

British Dictionary definitions for represent (2 of 2)

Derived forms of re-present