represent definition | Dictionary.com

re-pre⋅sent

[ree-pri-zent]

Use represent in a Sentence

–verb (used with object)

to present again or anew.

Origin:
1555–65; re- + present ²

rep⋅re⋅sent

[rep-ri-zent]

–verb (used with object)

1.	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.

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

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

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

5.	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.

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

7.	to present or picture to the mind.

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

9.	to set forth or describe as having a particular character (usually fol. by as, to be, etc.): The article represented the dictator as a benevolent despot.

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

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

12.	to impersonate, as in acting.

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

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

–verb (used without object)

15.	to protest; make representations against.

16.	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.

Origin:
1325–75; ME representen < MF representer < L repraesentāre to bring about immediately, make present, equiv. to re- re- + praesentāre to present ²

Related forms:

rep⋅re⋅sent⋅a⋅ble, adjective

rep⋅re⋅sent⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun

Synonyms:
1. exemplify. 6. delineate. 12. portray.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To represent

rep·re·sent (rěp'rĭ-zěnt')

tr.v. rep·re·sent·ed, rep·re·sent·ing, rep·re·sents

1. To stand for; symbolize: The bald eagle represents the United States.
2. To indicate or communicate by signs or symbols: Letters of the alphabet represent sounds.
3. To depict in art; portray.
4. To describe or present in words; set forth.
5. To serve as the official and authorized delegate or agent for.
6. To act as a spokesperson for.
7. To stage (a play, for example); produce.
8. To act the part or role of.
1. To depict in art; portray.
2. To describe or present in words; set forth.
3. To serve as the official and authorized delegate or agent for.
4. To act as a spokesperson for.
5. To stage (a play, for example); produce.
6. To act the part or role of.
To present clearly to the mind.
To draw attention to by way of remonstrance or protest: Our parents represented to us the need for greater caution.
To describe or put forward (a person or thing) as an embodiment of a specified quality.
1. To serve as the official and authorized delegate or agent for.
2. To act as a spokesperson for.
3. To stage (a play, for example); produce.
4. To act the part or role of.
To serve as an example of: The museum had several paintings representing the artist's early style.
To be the equivalent of.
1. To stage (a play, for example); produce.
2. To act the part or role of.

[Middle English representen, from Old French representer, from Latin repraesentāre, to show : re-, re- + praesentāre, to present; see present².]
rep're·sent'a·bil'i·ty n., rep're·sent'a·ble adj., rep're·sent'er n.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to render or present a realistic image or likeness of: a statue representing a king; cave paintings that delineate hunters; a cartoon depicting a sea monster; the personality of a great leader limned in words; a landscape pictured in soft colors; a book portraying life in the Middle Ages.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Represent

Rep`re*sent"\ (r?p`r?-z?nt"), v. t. [F. repr?senter, L. repraesentare, repraesentatum; pref. re- re- + preesentare to place before, present. See Present, v. t.]

1. To present again or anew; to present by means of something standing in the place of; to exhibit the counterpart or image of; to typify.

Before him burn Seven lamps, as in a zodiac representing The heavenly fires. --Milton.

2. To portray by pictoral or plastic art; to delineate; as, to represent a landscape in a picture, a horse in bronze, and the like.

3. To portray by mimicry or action of any kind; to act the part or character of; to personate; as, to represent Hamlet.

4. To stand in the place of; to supply the place, perform the duties, exercise the rights, or receive the share, of; to speak and act with authority in behalf of; to act the part of (another); as, an heir represents his ancestor; an attorney represents his client in court; a member of Congress represents his district in Congress.

5. To exhibit to another mind in language; to show; to give one's own impressions and judgement of; to bring before the mind; to set forth; sometimes, to give an account of; to describe.

He represented Rizzio's credit with the queen to be the chief and only obstacle to his success in that demand. --Robertson.

This bank is thought the greatest load on the Genoese, and the managers of it have been represented as a second kind of senate. --Addison.

6. To serve as a sign or symbol of; as, mathematical symbols represent quantities or relations; words represent ideas or things.

7. To bring a sensation of into the mind or sensorium; to cause to be known, felt, or apprehended; to present.

Among these. Fancy next Her office holds; of all external things Which he five watchful senses represent, She forms imaginations, aery shapes. --Milton.

8. (Metaph.) To form or image again in consciousness, as an object of cognition or apprehension (something which was originally apprehended by direct presentation). See Presentative, 3.

The general capability of knowledge necessarily requires that, besides the power of evoking out of unconsciousness one portion of our retained knowledge in preference to another, we posses the faculty of representing in consciousness what is thus evoked . . . This representative Faculty is Imagination or Phantasy. --Sir. W. Hamilton.

Language Translation for : represent

Spanish: representar,

German: vertreten,

Japanese: 代表する

More Translations »

represent

1375, "to bring to mind by description," from O.Fr. representer (12c.), from L. repræsentare, from re-, intensive prefix, + præsentare "to present," lit. "to place before" (see present (2)). Meaning "to symbolize, to be the embodiment of" is from c.1380. Legislative sense is attested from 1655. Representation "image, likeness" is from c.1425; legislative sense first attested 1769.

Main Entry: rep·re·sent
Function: transitive verb
1 : to substitute in some capacity for : act the part of, in place of, or for (as another person) usually by legal right: as a : to serve esp. in a legislative body by delegated authority usually resulting from an election b : to provide legal representation to as a lawyer c : to act as the representative of in a class action
2 a : to describe as having a specified character or quality b : to give one's impression and judgment of : state in a manner intended to affect action or judgment

Search another word or see represent on Thesaurus | Reference

Represent
Represent Online. Shop Target.com.

www.Target.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us