What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
represents
Example
The eagle represents freedom and strength. [represents: verb]
Example
The lawyer represents the defendant in court. [represents: verb]
Example
The painting represents a beautiful sunset over the ocean. [represents: verb]
mean
Example
What does the word 'facetious' mean? [mean: verb]
Example
The mean of the test scores was 85. [mean: noun]
Example
I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. [mean: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mean is more commonly used than represents in everyday language. Mean is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts, while represents is less common and often used in specific artistic or creative contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between represents and mean?
Both represents and mean can be used in formal and informal contexts, but mean is more commonly used in academic or technical settings, which may make it seem more formal.