symbolise
symbolise — verb
1. When a picture, object, action, or event symbolises an idea or quality, it is un
When a picture, object, action, or event symbolises an idea or quality, it is understood to stand for that thing — for example, a dove symbolising peace, or the colour green symbolising nature and growth.
Gabriela explained that the olive branch has long symbolised peace between nations.
collocation: symbolise peace
For her art project, Jiwoo painted a sunrise that symbolises hope after a difficult time.
At the ceremony, releasing a white dove symbolises the couple's wish for a harmonious future.
Ayesha read that the colour green symbolises nature, growth, and renewal in many cultures.
In the novel, the recurring image of rain symbolises the sadness the main character cannot express.
- represent
more general and literal; 'represent' can be factual (a map represents territory), while 'symbolise' is used for emotional or cultural meaning
- stand for
more informal; often used for abbreviations or direct equivalences ('SMART stands for…')
- denote
more formal and precise; used when something refers to something by explicit meaning rather than cultural association
- signify
overlaps closely; 'signify' can also mean 'be a sign of' as evidence, while 'symbolise' is about cultural convention
文法句型
symbolise + noun (the abstract idea or quality)
用法筆記
The subject is usually an inanimate thing (object, colour, image, action, or event). This verb is always transitive — the thing being represented must be stated after the verb. Frequently used in literary analysis and discussions of cultural symbolism.