represent
represent
/ˌreprɪˈzent/
act/speak for somebody
1 often passive represent somebody/something to be a member of a group of people and act or speak for them at an event, a meeting, etc. The competition attracted over 500 contestants representing eight different countries.
Local businesses are well represented on the committee (= there are a lot of people from them on the committee).
The opening speech was by Bob Alan representing Amnesty International.
The President was represented at the ceremony by the Vice-President.
Collocations
adverb
2 represent somebody/something to act or speak officially for somebody and defend their interests
The union represents over 200 000 teachers.
The association was formed to represent the interests of women artists.
Ms Dale is representing the defendant (= is his/her lawyer) in the case.
As an MP, it is my duty to represent my constituents.
Collocations
adverb
verb + represent
in sport
3 represent something to take part in a sports event for a particular country, city, etc.
He's been chosen to represent Scotland in next year's World Cup Finals.
be symbol
4 represent something (not used in the progressive tenses) to be a symbol of something
Each colour on the chart represents a different department.
Wind direction is represented by arrows.
The artist uses doves to represent peace.
It is not clear what these symbols were intended to represent.
Collocations
adverb
verb + represent
be intended to
purport toseek to…
preposition
as
be equal to
5 linking verb + noun (not used in the progressive tenses) to be something
This contract represents 20% of the company's annual revenue.
The final figure represents a 12% increase on the number of new jobs created the previous year.
They're investing in low-carbon technologies that represent value for money.
He got rid of anyone who represented a threat to his authority.
This role represents a unique opportunity to further your career in healthcare.
The peace plan represents (= is the result of) weeks of negotiation.
be present
6 be represented to be present in something to a particular degree
Women and men were represented equally on the teams.
Women are disproportionately represented among welfare recipients.
be example of
7 no passive represent something to be an example or expression of something SYNONYM be typical of
The project represents all that is good in the community.
Those comments do not represent the views of us all.
The book purported to represent the lives of ordinary people.
in picture
8 (formal) to show somebody/something, especially in a picture
represent somebody/something The carvings represent a hunting scene.
The map represents Italy in the 12th century.
The results are represented in fig. 3 below.
represent somebody/something as somebody/something The Egyptian goddess is represented as a woman with cow's horns.
Collocations
adverb
verb + represent
be intended to
purport to
seek to…
preposition
as
describe
9 (formal) to present or describe somebody/something in a particular way, especially when this may not be fair
represent somebody/something as something The king is represented as a villain in the play.
The risks were represented as negligible.
The film represents us as helpless victims.
represent somebody/something The film accurately represents the atmosphere of the post-war period.
make formal statement
10 (formal) to make a formal statement to somebody in authority to make your opinions known or to protest
represent something to somebody They represented their concerns to the authorities.
represent (to somebody) that… He admitted falsely representing to police officers that the car had been stolen.
Word Origin
late Middle English: from Old French representer or Latin repraesentare, from re- (expressing intensive force) + praesentare ‘to present’.