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Glite Dictionary
⚖️ To speak for 👥 To be example 🔗 To show as symbol 🎭 To act as 🗣️ To describe as ✋ To raise issues
to represent

to represent

5 4.4
Point out a problem or concern to ask for change
  • verb
  • /ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt/
translation icon : manifestar
  • The protest aimed to represent the voices of those affected by the new policy.

That gets a lot of hatred and clicks, but that's not really representing the problem.

Examples

  • It's nice that you can speak out and represent the people without a voice.

  • The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education.

    Academic text (2012)

  • But also they represent everything most of us in this country stand against.

  • Is there something new about depression itself, or does this represent a problem inherent in modern Western society?

    Academic text (2002)

  • These laws don't represent the people and the views of Northern Ireland.

  • Protests in Nigeria and the Middle East are represented with a theme of burning the American flag.

    Blog text (22)

  • And, you know, these people, these evil people, they don't represent Islam and Muslims.

  • Controversies like this may represent the next wave of religious right legal activism.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Rock 'n' roll was considered a real sellout music for a lot of folk fans... and Like a Rolling Stone seemed like the direct slap in the face... to everything that topical songs represented.

    No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005)

  • FENOC and FEINE complained that CONAIE was excluding their leadership and therefore not representing the different indigenous constituents.

    Academic text (2004)

Synonyms

to protest
vsto represent
93 2.8

To say firmly that you are not guilty

aims to draw attention or highlight an issue rather than only assert it
to demonstrate
vsto represent
74 3.2

Join a public protest to show strong opposition

points out or draws attention without joining public marches

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Strong

to protest
283 3.2
to represent
5 4.4
to emphasize
  • US
397 3.7
to point out
∞ 1.8
to mention
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

represent infinitive
represented past
represented past participle
representing present participle
represents third person singular

Morphology

represent = present (semi-transparent) = re + present

Formed by 're-' + 'present'; the basic idea of 'showing' is retained, but the specific formal/objection sense is specialized and not fully predictable for learners.

Etymology

Represent comes from the Latin parts re- 'again' and praesentare 'to show', same root as present. So to represent a concern is to 'bring it before' others or 'show' it to them, which is why the word can mean 'point out' or 'complain'.