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

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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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.

Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano will represent the European Space Agency as the voyage's pilot, becoming the first European to join one of the program's missions.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Gates’s team tapped lawyer John Moran, a Republican former Justice Department official, to represent Gates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Super Micro plans to issue $1.25 billion in new shares and $3.75 billion of depositary shares, which represent fractional interests in the company’s newly-issued convertible preferred stock.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

The lawyers filing the May 18 motion represent property insurers that paid tens of millions of dollars to residents who lost their homes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

I pocket his money and walk away from them, letting my nose lead me to the sugar shack while I rub furiously at the mocking smiles, try to make them and what they represent disappear.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

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