represent
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.
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.
Origin of represent
1Other words for represent
Other words from represent
- rep·re·sent·a·ble, adjective
- rep·re·sent·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- non·rep·re·sent·a·ble, adjective
- pre·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 re-present (2 of 2)
to present again or anew.
Origin of re-present
2Words that may be confused with re-present
- re-present , represent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for represent (1 of 2)
/ (ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt) /
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
Origin of represent
1Derived forms of represent
- representable, adjective
- representability, noun
British Dictionary definitions for re-present (2 of 2)
/ (ˌriːprɪˈzɛnt) /
(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
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