From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsymbolizesym‧bol‧ize (also symbolise British English) /ˈsɪmbəlaɪz/ ●○○ AWL verb [transitive] MEANINGif something symbolizes a quality, feeling etc, it represents it Crime often symbolizes a wider social problem. Growing discontent has been symbolized by the protests.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
symbolize• Wedding rings symbolize a couple's commitment to each other.• They symbolized all the money that was around, the flamboyance expected of the richest nation on earth.• The musical instruments symbolize an underlying harmony behind nature's powers, to which the successful alchemist must himself be attuned.• The rouged cheeks, ever so carefully shaded peach, seemed to symbolize death.• Outfitted in his regal trappings, he would symbolize imperial authority.• The latter is further symbolized in the awakening lion and the eagle that holds the emblem of the city in its feet.• Cowardice is symbolized in the painting by the white feathers on the soldier's coat.• And when the symbol ceases to look or sound like what it symbolizes, it becomes a sign.• Yet Hebron today symbolizes our exile from Eden.• In Europe, the colour white symbolizes purity but in Asia it is often the symbol of deep mourning.• The lion symbolizes strength, the lamb symbolizes gentleness.• It might even symbolize the return of the soul to its spirit after death.• To people in the community, Hernandez's death symbolizes years of mistreatment by police. 