represent
/ˌreprɪˈzent/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌreprɪˈzent/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌre-pri-ˈzent/ (ame, mw)
represent — verb
- representpresent simple I / you / we / they
- representshe / she / it
- representedpast simple
- representing-ing form
1. to speak or act on behalf of another person or a group in a formal or official s
to speak or act on behalf of another person or a group in a formal or official setting, doing what they would do if they were there
The lawyer will represent Mrs. Chen in court next Tuesday morning.
represent [someone] in [setting]
Minh was chosen to represent the student council at the school board meeting.
represent [organization] at [event]
The union leader will represent the factory workers during the pay talks.
Darius asked a local agent to represent him at the property sale.
Sade offered to represent her colleague at the meeting with management.
- oppose
to act against someone's interests
文法句型
represent + noun phrase
represent + noun phrase + in/at + noun phrase
用法筆記
Subject can be a person (lawyer, agent, friend) or an organization (union, council). Frequently used in legal and business contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to serve as the elected official who speaks and votes for people from a particul
to serve as the elected official who speaks and votes for people from a particular area in a government or parliament
Senator Lakshmi represents the southern district in the state legislature.
represent [area] in [institution]
Christopher has represented this area in Congress for twelve years.
Each village sends one delegate to represent them at the county assembly.
Iris hopes to represent her hometown in the national parliament one day.
文法句型
represent + area/constituency
represent + area + in + legislative body
用法筆記
Subject is always a person holding an elected position or a candidate. The object is a geographical or political area. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is specifically about elected governance roles.
常見錯誤
3. to take part in a competition as the officially chosen member or team of a parti
to take part in a competition as the officially chosen member or team of a particular country, school, or organisation
João will represent Brazil in the Olympic swimming competition next summer.
represent [country] in [event]
Haruto represented his school at the national science competition last month.
Noa was chosen to represent the university at the international debate contest.
The local football team will represent the city in the national championship.
- play for
informal, mainly sports
- compete for
emphasises the competitive aspect
文法句型
represent + country/institution + in + event
用法筆記
Subject is a person or team. Object is the country, school, club, or city. Used with sporting events, academic contests, and cultural competitions.
4. to formally express a concern, opinion, or complaint to someone in authority on
to formally express a concern, opinion, or complaint to someone in authority on behalf of yourself or others
The residents represented their safety concerns to the town council members.
represent + concerns/complaints + to + authority
Élise represented her complaint about the noise to the building manager.
The staff represented their demands for better pay to the company directors.
Lucía represented the neighbourhood's objections at the public planning hearing.
文法句型
represent + concerns/complaints/grievances + to + authority
用法筆記
This sense is formal and often used in written or official contexts. The object is typically an abstract noun phrase (concerns, complaints, grievances, demands, objections). The related noun phrase 'make representations' is a common alternative.
常見錯誤
5. to show, describe, or depict something or someone in a particular way, especiall
to show, describe, or depict something or someone in a particular way, especially through art, writing, or performance
This old photograph represents three generations of the Chen family together.
represent [subject] in art/photography
In her novel, the author represents village life through small, vivid details.
The museum display represents how people cooked food two hundred years ago.
The diagram represents how blood flows through the chambers of the heart.
In the play, the actor represents a young soldier returning home after the war.
文法句型
represent + noun phrase
represent + noun phrase + as + noun phrase/adjective
用法筆記
Subject can be a person (author, painter, actor) or a thing (photograph, diagram, film). Often used in discussions about art, literature, and media.
6. to work as a visible mark or picture that points to an idea, quality, or fact —
to work as a visible mark or picture that points to an idea, quality, or fact — for example, a dove points to peace, or a colour on a map points to a particular kind of land
In many cultures, a white dove represents peace and hope.
[symbol] represents [abstract concept]
The five Olympic rings represent the major regions of the world.
For Minh, the old wooden table represents happy memories of his grandmother.
On this weather map, blue areas represent regions with heavy rainfall.
Each bar in the chart represents annual sales for one company branch.
文法句型
[symbol/thing] + represent + [abstract concept]
用法筆記
Not used in progressive tenses (❌ 'is representing peace'). Subject is a concrete thing, object an abstract concept. Similar to 'symbolise' but covers a wider range of conventional signs and diagrams.
常見錯誤
7. to equal a particular amount, state, or outcome; to count as a specific thing in
to equal a particular amount, state, or outcome; to count as a specific thing in a given situation
The new factory represents an investment of over two million dollars.
[subject] represents [result/achievement]
For the young couple, buying their first home represents financial independence.
The peace agreement represents a major step toward ending the conflict.
This research represents the most complete study of ocean pollution to date.
The increase in sales represents a growth of fifteen percent compared to last year.
- constitute
more formal, common in legal and official writing
- amount to
emphasises the sum or total effect
- be
simpler, everyday word — interchangeable in most cases
文法句型
[subject] + represent + [result/state/noun phrase]
用法筆記
Not used in progressive tenses (❌ 'is representing a step forward'). Subject is typically an action, event, or situation. Object is a noun phrase that describes the significance or outcome. Distinguish from sense 6: sense 7 is about being an instance or result, not a symbol.