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Represent vs Symbolize - What's the difference?

represent | symbolize |

As verbs the difference between represent and symbolize

is that represent is to present again or anew; to present by means of something standing in the place of; to exhibit the counterpart or image of; to typify while symbolize is to be symbolic of; to represent.

represent

English

(Webster 1913)

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To present again or anew; to present by means of something standing in the place of; to exhibit the counterpart or image of; to typify.
  • To portray by pictorial or plastic art; to delineate; as, to represent a landscape in a picture, a horse in bronze, and the like.
  • To portray by mimicry or action of any kind; to act the part or character of; to personate; as, to represent Hamlet.
  • To stand in the place of; to supply the place, perform the duties, exercise the rights, or receive the share, of; to speak and act with authority in behalf of; to act the part of (another); as, an heir represents his ancestor; an attorney represents his client in court; a member of Congress represents his district in Congress.
  • To exhibit to another mind in language; to show; to give one's own impressions and judgement of; to bring before the mind; to set forth; sometimes, to give an account of; to describe.
  • He represented that he was investigating for the police department.
  • To serve as a sign or symbol of; as, mathematical symbols represent quantities or relations; words represent ideas or things.
  • To bring a sensation of into the mind or sensorium; to cause to be known, felt, or apprehended; to present.
  • To form or image again in consciousness, as an object of cognition or apprehension (something presentative, which was originally apprehended by direct presentation).
  • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    *

    symbolize

    English

    Alternative forms

    * symbolise (UK )

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To be symbolic of; to represent.
  • * {{quote-book, year=2006, author=
  • , title=Internal Combustion , chapter=2 citation , passage=The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood.}}
  • To use symbols; to represent ideas symbolically.
  • (obsolete) To resemble each other in qualities or properties; to correspond; to harmonize.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • The pleasing of colour symbolizeth' with the pleasing of any single tone to the ear; but the pleasing of order doth ' symbolize with harmony.
  • * Howell
  • They both symbolize in this, that they love to look upon themselves through multiplying glasses.
  • (obsolete) To hold the same faith; to agree.
  • * G. S. Faber
  • The believers in pretended miracles have always previously symbolized with the performers of them.

    Derived terms

    * nonsymbolizing