Definition

1. Verb:
   • To act or speak officially for someone or something: To be the authorized agent or delegate of a person, group, or organization.
   • To constitute; to be a part or example of: To be a member of a group or to serve as a typical example of a category.
   • To depict or portray in art, literature, or performance: To show or describe someone or something in a particular way through images, words, or actions.
   • To symbolize or stand for: To be a sign, symbol, or embodiment of an idea, quality, or group.
   • To present or describe in a particular manner: To state or characterize something in a specific way, often to persuade or inform.

Usage Examples

• To act or speak officially:
  • The lawyer will represent the client in court.
  • Each state elects officials to represent them in Congress.
• To constitute or be an example of:
  • These samples represent the best of our work.
  • This single fossil represents an entire extinct species.
• To depict or portray:
  • The painting represents a stormy sea.
  • In the film, the actor represents a historical figure.
• To symbolize:
  • The dove represents peace.
  • The data in this chart represents sales from last quarter.
• To present or describe:
  • He represented the plan as a guaranteed success.
  • The article represents the facts accurately.

Advanced Usage

• "to represent oneself as": to claim or portray oneself to be something.
  • He represented himself as an expert, but he had no formal training.
• "to represent to someone that...": to formally state or explain something to someone.
  • The agent represented to the buyers that the house had no major issues.

Variants and Related Words

• Representation (n): the act of representing or the state of being represented; a depiction or portrayal.
  • The painting is a representation of grief.
• Representative (n/adj): a person chosen to act for others; typical of a class or group.
  • She is our elected representative.
  • Is this a representative sample?
• Misrepresent (v): to give a false or misleading account of.
  • The advertisement misrepresents the product's capabilities.

Synonyms

• Symbolize: to be a symbol of.
• Depict: to show or portray.
• Characterize: to describe the qualities of.
• Constitute: to form or compose.
• Denote: to be a sign of; to indicate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Represent" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed through the verb itself with prepositions like "as," "to," or "for.")

Related Idioms

• Represent the tip of the iceberg: to be a small, visible part of a much larger, hidden problem or situation.
  • These few complaints represent the tip of the iceberg; many more are unreported.

Verb

1. to establish a mapping (of mathematical elements or sets)
2. bring forward and present to the mind
   • We presented the arguments to him
   • We cannot represent this knowledge to our formal reason
3. point out or draw attention to in protest or remonstrance
   • our parents represented to us the need for more caution
4. describe or present, usually with respect to a particular quality
   • He represented this book as an example of the Russian 19th century novel
5. perform (a play), especially on a stage
   • we are going to stage `Othello'
6. play a role or part
   • Gielgud played Hamlet
   • She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role
   • She played the servant to her husband's master
7. create an image or likeness of
   • The painter represented his wife as a young girl
8. be the defense counsel for someone in a trial
   • Ms. Smith will represent the defendant
9. form or compose
   • This money is my only income
   • The stone wall was the backdrop for the performance
   • These constitute my entire belonging
   • The children made up the chorus
   • This sum represents my entire income for a year
   • These few men comprise his entire army
10. be characteristic of
    • This compositional style is exemplified by this fugue
11. serve as a means of expressing something
    • The flower represents a young girl
12. be a delegate or spokesperson for; represent somebody's interest or be a proxy or substitute for, as of politicians and office holders representing their constituents, or of a tenant representing other tenants in a housing dispute
    • I represent the silent majority
13. be representative or typical for
    • This period is represented by Beethoven
14. express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol
    • What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize?
15. take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
    • Because of the sound changes in the course of history, an 'h' in Greek stands for an 's' in Latin