|reprə̇|zent, -prē|z-, in rapid speech often ÷ -pə|z, chiefly in substand speech -pər|z- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English representen, from Middle French representer, from Latin repraesentare, from re- + praesentare to present — more at present
transitive verb
1. : to bring clearly before the mind : cause to be known, felt, or apprehended : present especially by description
2. : to serve as a sign or symbol of
3. : to portray by pictorial, plastic, or musical art : delineate , depict
4. archaic : to make manifest : display , exhibit , show
5. : to exhibit by delineation, depiction, or portrayal — used especially of a work of art
6. : to present by means of something standing in the place of : serve as the counterpart or image of : typify
7. : to exhibit dramatically:
a. : to produce on the stage
b. : to act the part or role of : personate in acting or on the stage
8.
a. : to supply the place, perform the duties, exercise the rights, or receive the share of : take the place of in some respect : fill the place of for some purpose : substitute in some capacity for : act the part of, in the place of, or for (as another person) usually by legal right
b. : to serve (as in a legislative body) by delegated or deputed authority usually resulting from election
the state was represented in Congress by two Republicans
9. : to describe as having a specified character or quality
10. : to set forth or place before someone (as by statement, account, or discourse) : exhibit (a fact) to another mind in language : give one's own impressions and judgment of : state with advocacy or with the design of affecting action or judgment : point out by way of protest or remonstrance
11. : to serve as a specimen, example, or instance of
12.
a. : to form an image or representation of in the mind
b.
(1) : to apprehend (an object) by means of an idea
(2) : to recall in memory (an object of previous experience)
13. : to correspond to in kind
intransitive verb
: to make representations against something : present objections : protest
Synonyms:
represent , depict , portray , delineate , picture , and limn can mean to present an image or lifelike imitation of, as in art. represent implies a placing before the mind as if real or as if living, as by a picture, description, or piece of sculpture
the statue represented the great man as even more heroic than he was in fact
the stage setting represents a hotel lobby
seemed to think that music could represent physical objects and literary or historical events — New Republic
depict suggests specifically a graphic representation
depicted hill-country scenes in woodcuts and etchings — American Guide Series: Arkansas
miniature tapestries that depict quaint eighteenth-century scenes — Horace Sutton
action can tell a story, display all the most vivid relations between men, and depict every kind of human emotion, without the aid of a word — O.W.Holmes †1935
portray suggests specifically a detailed representation as of a character by means of a portrait
a picture vividly portraying the passion of Joan of Arc
in literature are portrayed all human passions, desires, and aspirations — C.W.Eliot
delineate , suggesting a line drawing, stresses a care for accuracy of detail and fullness of outline
his brush did its work with a steady and sure stroke that indicated command of his materials. He could delineate whatever he elected with technical skill — Richard Jefferies
various clinical studies which fairly well delineated the usefulness of this drug — R.R.Tompsett & Walsh McDermott
those who perform on the screen have to delineate character and to display the emotions — P.W.Tell
picture suggests perhaps more pictorial quality or definiteness of representation
on the walls were pictured buffalo and reindeer
the writer is a master of vivid illustrations from nature and history, of rhythmical period or terse antithesis, of emotional appeal and concrete picturing of facts — Encyc. Americana
picture things as they were in the golden thirteenth century — G.G.Coulton
limn is chiefly a literary equivalent of depict or delineate
prosecution limned a somewhat different picture — Newsweek
his talent for dialogue as a means for limning character — Margaret Hexter
the life of the community is drawn in detail and the sorrows and sacrifices limned with deep compassion — Mary L. Dunn