1
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group the writer of the magazine article represented the students at the academy as a bunch of spoiled brats

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2
as in to depict
to present a picture of a painting representing the ocean at sunrise

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3
as in to symbolize
to serve as a material counterpart of this orange represents the sun and this pea represents the Earth

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of represent Later, Stokes represented Bean as his personal lawyer when he was sued in his capacity as superintendent of the center in 2003. Valliant, appointed to his seat on the board by the county commissioners, has represented county commissioners as their lawyer. Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 7 June 2025 Each dot on this map represents a city or reporting area that issues a forecast. Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025 Lindsay Leahy, who represents Oceanside on the water authority board, requested last week an analysis of how much overall rates would need to rise if all water demand through the PSAWR program were to go away. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025 The other union that already threw its weight behind Brannan is Local 804, which mostly represents UPS delivery workers. Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for represent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for represent
Verb
  • Following deep sleep, REM sleep is the next critical phase of sleep cycles, characterized by more dreaming that’s also extra vivid and lifelike, and by faster heart rate and breathing.
    Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 8 June 2025
  • Kirn characterized the foreword as a kind of ideological overreach.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Administration officials have also depicted Abrego Garcia, a sheet metal apprentice, as a violent criminal, accusing him—without proof—of being affiliated with MS-13.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 7 June 2025
  • Or the controversy over the stereotypically demeaning roles Black actors depicted.
    Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The star details symbolize his cosmic beginnings, while red and clear crystals honor the love given by his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 9 June 2025
  • The Wright Celebrates 60 Years Two memorials symbolize the Wright Museum’s significance to Detroit over its 60 years in existence, Detroit’s contributions to America, and African Americans’ contributions to American history.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • And that's just the juiciest of the various cases described in a new paper published in the journal Criminal Law Forum.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
  • Hatfield did not say whether San Diego Pride had changed Kehlani’s contract as Gloria described.
    Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Call Me Izzy, written by Jamie Wax, opens June 12, and sees Smart portray the title character, a woman who lives in rural Louisiana and yearns to write, but is held back by her husband.
    Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
  • McDaniel and Schefter have portrayed Smith’s situation somewhat differently, subtly so, over the past two weeks.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • The edges of the mole are irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined.
    Sarah Jividen, Health, 13 June 2025
  • The program defined orphans as children who had lost one or both parents to AIDS, and the children did not necessarily have HIV themselves.
    Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 13 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Represent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/represent. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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