rep·re·sent
Pronounced:
/ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
rep·re·sents; rep·re·sent·ed; rep·re·sent·ingMeaning:
1 [+ obj] a : to act or speak officially for (someone or something) ▪ He represented his company at the meeting. ▪ She hired an agent to represent her in the contract negotiations. b : to have a government position in which you speak or act for (a particular group, state, etc.) ▪ Senator Smith represents the state of Connecticut. c : to speak or act for (someone or something) in a court of law ▪ He represented himself at the trial. [=he spoke for himself at the trial and did not have a lawyer] ▪ The company is represented by a local law firm.
2 [+ obj] a : to be part of a sports event or other competition for (a particular country, city, school, etc.) ▪ She represented the United States in figure skating at the Olympics. b be represented —used to say that people from a particular place or group are present at an event, meeting, etc. ▪ The town was well represented at the meeting. [=there were many people from the town at the meeting]
3 not used in progressive tenses [linking verb] : to form or be something ▪ The money he makes from his investments represents [=constitutes] over half his income. ▪ The court's decision represents a victory for small businesses. ▪ The new prices represent a substantial increase over last year's prices.
4 [+ obj] : to be an example of (someone or something) ▪ He represents everything I dislike about politics/politicians. ▪ They have a collection of animals representing more than 50 species.
5 [+ obj] : to be a sign or symbol of (someone or something) ▪ The flag represents our country. ▪ Letters represent sounds. ▪ High and low temperatures are represented by colored lines on the graph. ▪ She is beginning to question the company and everything it represents. [=stands for]
6 [+ obj] : to show (someone or something) in a picture, painting, photograph, etc. ▪ This painting represents [=portrays, depicts] Queen Elizabeth.
7 [+ obj] : to describe (someone or something) in a particular way ▪ The politician was angry with the newspaper for representing [=portraying] his party negatively. —often used to suggest that a description is false ▪ He represented himself as poor, but I saw him driving an expensive new car.
2 [+ obj] a : to be part of a sports event or other competition for (a particular country, city, school, etc.) ▪ She represented the United States in figure skating at the Olympics. b be represented —used to say that people from a particular place or group are present at an event, meeting, etc. ▪ The town was well represented at the meeting. [=there were many people from the town at the meeting]
3 not used in progressive tenses [linking verb] : to form or be something ▪ The money he makes from his investments represents [=constitutes] over half his income. ▪ The court's decision represents a victory for small businesses. ▪ The new prices represent a substantial increase over last year's prices.
4 [+ obj] : to be an example of (someone or something) ▪ He represents everything I dislike about politics/politicians. ▪ They have a collection of animals representing more than 50 species.
5 [+ obj] : to be a sign or symbol of (someone or something) ▪ The flag represents our country. ▪ Letters represent sounds. ▪ High and low temperatures are represented by colored lines on the graph. ▪ She is beginning to question the company and everything it represents. [=stands for]
6 [+ obj] : to show (someone or something) in a picture, painting, photograph, etc. ▪ This painting represents [=portrays, depicts] Queen Elizabeth.
7 [+ obj] : to describe (someone or something) in a particular way ▪ The politician was angry with the newspaper for representing [=portraying] his party negatively. —often used to suggest that a description is false ▪ He represented himself as poor, but I saw him driving an expensive new car.