- to stand as an equivalent of; correspond to
- 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 a 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
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
rep•re•sent /ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt/USA pronunciation
v.
- to stand for, as a word or symbol does;
symbolize:[~ + object]In this story the black bird represents evil. - to express or designate by some symbol, character, or the like:[~ + object]to represent musical sounds by notes.
- [~ + object] to stand or act in place of, as an agent or substitute, or on behalf of.
- to impersonate, as in acting;
to pretend to be:[~ + object + as + object]He represented himself as an expert in Egyptian art, and everyone believed him. - to be the equivalent of or to correspond to;
to serve as an example of:[~ + object]His actions represent a bold new departure from politics as usual.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
represent /ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt/ vb (transitive)
re-pre•sent
(rē′pri zent′),USA pronunciation v.t.
rep•re•sent (rep′ri zent′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
rep′re•sent′a•ble, adj.
rep′re•sent′a•bil′i•ty, n.
- to present again or anew.
- re- + present2 1555–65
rep•re•sent (rep′ri zent′),USA pronunciation v.t.
- 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.
- Governmentto speak and act for by delegated authority:to represent one's government in a foreign country.
- Governmentto 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 fol. 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.
v.i.
- to protest;
make representations against. - Slang Termsto use or display a secret handshake, sign, gesture, etc., for purposes of identification:The gang members always represent when they see one another.
- Latin repraesentāre to bring about immediately, make present, equivalent. to re- re- + praesentāre to present2
- Middle French representer
- Middle English representen 1325–75
rep′re•sent′a•bil′i•ty, n.
- 1. exemplify. 6. delineate. 12. portray.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
re-present /ˌriːprɪˈzɛnt/ vb
- (transitive) to present again
'represent' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
actualize
- algebra
- alphabet
- analog computer
- analogue
- ash
- attorney
- attorney-at-law
- baggy green
- brief
- burlesque
- caricature
- chip
- commend
- compare
- contrive
- cue
- cyclorama
- defend
- delegate
- delegation
- delineate
- denominate
- depict
- deputation
- deputy
- difference
- digraph
- Diplomatic Service
- dramatize
- edh
- enact
- exaggerate
- expressionism
- extenuate
- fancy
- figure
- figurant
- foreshorten
- formal logic
- graph
- grapheme
- hieroglyphics
- histogram
- hit off
- -ic
- ideal
- idealism
- idealize
- interpret