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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Fong, then a state Assemblyman representing a similar political turf, easily won the open seat. David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025 Beyond its idyllic exterior, the property represents decades of resilience, legacy, and love. Essence, 7 Nov. 2025 The informal meeting represents the first layer in the appeals process the district is entitled to avail itself of, Lecholop said. Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2025 The Sports Betting Alliance, representing companies like Draft Kings and FanDuel, opposes the bill's revenue-sharing model. Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for represent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for represent
Verb
  • Steering away from the Banda music that has characterized her sound and biggest hits, the Mexican-American singer experiments with reggae, R&B, and folk cumbia on this eight-track set that also includes powerful audio affirmations by the singer.
    Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The two-hour-plus interview was characterized by Carlson’s failure to directly challenge Fuentes’s points.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The heritage brand unveiled the Lee x Mighty Jaxx collection, an assortment of tees, shorts and a 9-inch figurine that depict Buddy Lee in Freeny’s signature XXRay aesthetic.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The video depicts a surreal world where a young man begins seeing the colorful patterns and iconography, like Swedish fish and other candies, that dedicated Candy Crush players will no doubt recognize.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Putnam asserted that the long-term decline in social connection and civic engagement—symbolized in his book by the fact that the number of people participating in bowling leagues has fallen off a cliff—is the core issue facing America.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The seal symbolizes the monarch's approval of state documents, meaning the decision is now official, legal and final.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The only real attempt in this episode to describe the difficulty of Maia’s position as Tallulah’s manager comes from Maia’s chirpy co-worker (Lauren Holt, a treat every time).
    Caroline Framke, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
  • During the week, Aluko had described lying in bed at the height of the controversy, depressed and unable to eat.
    Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • At first glance, Grace resembles the type of mothers who have become a dominant cinematic presence in recent years—women portrayed as troubled about being a caregiver.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
  • There’s no way to trick him into portraying the right levels of fear and anxiety and sadness.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Millennials, typically defined as individuals born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s, are now at a point in their lives where their generational nostalgia is front and center.
    Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The next two years will test how well Republicans can walk that line, using Mamdani to define the left without letting Newsom define himself.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Represent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/represent. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on represent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!