- represent
- [[t]re̱prɪze̱nt[/t]]
♦♦represents, representing, represented1) VERB If someone such as a lawyer or a politician represents a person or group of people, they act on behalf of that person or group.
[V n] ...the politicians we elect to represent us...
[V n] The offer has yet to be accepted by the lawyers representing the victims.
2) VERB If you represent a person or group at an official event, you go there on their behalf.[V n] The general secretary may represent the president at official ceremonies.
3) VERB If you represent your country or town in a competition or sports event, you take part in it on behalf of the country or town where you live.[V n] My only aim is to represent Britain at the Olympics.
4) V-PASSIVE If a group of people or things is well represented in a particular activity or in a particular place, a lot of them can be found there.[be adv V-ed] Women are already well represented in the area of TV drama...
[be V-ed] In New Mexico all kinds of cuisines are represented.
5) V-LINK If you say that something represents a change, achievement, or victory, you mean that it is a change, achievement, or victory. [FORMAL or WRITTEN][V n] The pieces on view are not grouped around any one theme, but rather represent superb examples from various periods...
[V n] These developments represented a major change in the established order.
Syn:amount to, constitute6) VERB: no cont If a sign or symbol represents something, it is accepted as meaning that thing.[V n] ...a black dot in the middle of the circle is supposed to represent the source of the radiation.
Syn:stand for, symbolize7) VERB: no cont, no passive To represent an idea or quality means to be a symbol or an expression of that idea or quality.[V n] We believe you represent everything British racing needs.
Syn:8) VERB If you represent a person or thing as a particular thing, you describe them as being that thing.[V n as n] The popular press tends to represent him as an environmental guru.
Syn:depict, portray
English dictionary. 2008.