symbolise

UK/ˈsɪmbəlaɪz/US/ˈsɪmbəlaɪz/

verbB2+Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #14,886 of 15,258leans written

Other forms: symbolising, symbolises, symbolised

To symbolise is to stand as a sign for something. The dove symbolises peace, symbolise unity, what it symbolises.

The link is by convention rather than resemblance, which is why a dove can symbolise peace while looking nothing like it. British spelling has an s and American a z. The thing doing the standing comes first: X symbolises Y.

Definitions of symbolise

1verbsymboliseTo stand as a sign for something.B2+
“In many countries, the colour white symbolises purity and new beginnings.”

symbolise is a standing for.

Also accepted in games: symbolize

Where it comes from

Middle French
symboliser
English
symbolize
English, today
symbolise

symbolize comes from Middle French symboliser.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in Word Building

Practise this word

symbolise in the wild

Thereafter she comes to symbolise Rome's eventual hegemony and right to rule.
Victoria (mythology)
The current flag was introduced to symbolise Cape Verde's transformation from a socialist state to a multi-party democracy.
Flag of Cape Verde
Red, black and white symbolise fire (the sun, representing courage), earth (representing dedication) and water (representing purity and equality).
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago
However, there are many other symbols, both official and unofficial, that symbolise the Luxembourgish nation in the public consciousness.
National symbols of Luxembourg
The gopis are regarded to symbolise selfless devotion (bhakti) to the deity, flocking around him in love and worship.
Gopinath (Krishna)

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

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