Reflect Definition and Meaning
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Published on May 24, 2024
Reflect means to throw back light, heat, sound, or any form of energy without absorbing it. e.g., The mirror reflects light, allowing us to see ourselves.
Table of Contents
Reflect Definitions
To show an image, as a mirror or shiny surface does.
The calm lake reflected the beautiful mountains above.
To throw back light, heat, sound, or an image from a surface.
Water droplets on the window reflect the morning sunlight.
To think deeply or carefully about something.
He took a moment to reflect on his achievements.
To cast or impart a flattering or unflattering light on someone or something.
Their teamwork reflects well on the entire organization.
To bend or throw back from a surface.
The canyon walls reflect sound, creating an echo.
To throw or bend back (light or sound, for example) from a surface.
To give back or show an image of (an object); mirror.
To make apparent; express or manifest
Her work reflects intelligence.
To bring as a consequence
The victory reflects credit on the coach.
(Archaic) To bend back.
To be bent or thrown back
Her voice reflected off the canyon walls.
To give something back, as light or sound
A shiny surface that reflects well.
To give evidence of the characteristics or qualities of someone or something
That student's performance reflects well on the whole school.
To bring blame or discredit
Hasty preparation of the report will reflect on you.
To think seriously.
To express carefully considered thoughts
In the essay, he reflects on his career.
(transitive) To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.
A mirror reflects the light that shines on it.
(intransitive) To be bent back (light, etc.) from a surface.
The moonlight reflected from the surface of water.
(transitive) To mirror, or show the image of something.
The shop window reflected his image as he walked past.
(intransitive) To be mirrored.
His image reflected from the shop window as he walked past.
(transitive) To agree with; to closely follow.
Entries in English dictionaries aim to reflect common usage.
(transitive) To give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
The team's victory reflects the Captain's abilities.
The teacher's ability reflects well on the school.
(intransitive) To think seriously; to ponder or consider.
People do that sort of thing every day, without ever stopping to reflect on the consequences.
To bend back; to give a backwa d turn to; to throw back; especially, to cause to return after striking upon any surface; as, a mirror reflects rays of light; polished metals reflect heat.
Let me mind the reader to reflect his eye on our quotations.
Bodies close together reflect their own color.
To give back an image or likeness of; to mirror.
Nature is the glass reflecting God,As by the sea reflected is the sun.
To throw back light, heat, or the like; to return rays or beams.
To be sent back; to rebound as from a surface; to revert; to return.
Whose virtues will, I hope,Reflect on Rome, as Titan's rays on earth.
To throw or turn back the thoughts upon anything; to contemplate. Specifically: To attend earnestly to what passes within the mind; to attend to the facts or phenomena of consciousness; to use attention or earnest thought; to meditate; especially, to think in relation to moral truth or rules.
We can not be said to reflect upon any external object, except so far as that object has been previously perceived, and its image become part and parcel of our intellectual furniture.
All men are concious of the operations of their own minds, at all times, while they are awake, but there few who reflect upon them, or make them objects of thought.
As I much reflected, much I mourned.
To cast reproach; to cause censure or dishonor.
Errors of wives reflect on husbands still.
Neither do I reflect in the least upon the memory of his late majesty.
Manifest or bring back;
This action reflects his true beliefs
To throw or bend back or reflect (from a surface);
A mirror in the sun can reflect light into a person's eyes
Sound is reflected well in this auditorium
Reflect deeply on a subject;
I mulled over the events of the afternoon
Philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years
The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate
Be bright by reflecting or casting light;
Drive carefully--the wet road reflects
Give evidence of a certain behavior;
His lack of interest in the project reflects badly on him
Give evidence of the quality of;
The mess in his dorm room reflects on the student
To give evidence of the character or quality of something.
Her meticulous work reflects her attention to detail.
To indicate or be a sign of a particular situation or feeling.
The downturn in sales reflects the overall market sentiment.
To mirror or represent something faithfully.
The documentary aims to reflect the true experiences of the participants.
To reproduce or show an image of something.
The artist's painting reflects the vibrancy of the urban landscape.
To reconsider or think back on past actions or events.
She often reflects on her decisions to understand her growth.
Reflect Snonyms
Mirror
To show a copy or representation of.
The film mirrors the complexity of real-life relationships.
Resemble
To look or be like.
His views closely resemble those of his mentor.
Reproduce
To produce a copy or duplicate of.
The machine reproduces the documents quickly.
Reverberate
To rebound or recoil.
The sound of the bell reverberates through the valley.
Embody
To represent or express something abstract in tangible form.
The new policy embodies the changes that the community requested.
Echo
To repeat or resonate.
The halls echo with the sounds of laughter.
Mimic
To imitate closely.
The robot mimics human movements.
Project
To externalize or convey.
She projects confidence when she speaks.
Manifest
To display or exhibit.
His nervousness manifested in his shaky hands.
Illustrate
To show or make clear by examples.
The teacher illustrates complex ideas with simple diagrams.
Reflect Idioms & Phrases
Reflect on one's life
To think deeply about one’s personal history.
He likes to reflect on his life during long walks.
Reflect the times
To embody the characteristics of the current era.
The music reflects the times with its focus on social justice.
Reflect badly (well) on someone
To make someone look bad (good) in the eyes of others.
The incident reflected badly on the whole team.
Reflect upon
To consider or ponder.
She often reflects upon the advice her grandmother gave her.
Reflect back
To think back on something or mirror it.
The lake reflects back the stars at night beautifully.
Reflect upon the day
To review or consider the day’s events.
I like to reflect upon the day before going to sleep.
Reflect the mood
To show or display the general feeling or atmosphere.
The dim lighting reflected the mood of the film.
Reflect the truth
To accurately represent reality.
Does the article reflect the truth of the situation?
Reflect one's values
To demonstrate or embody someone's beliefs or standards.
His decision reflects his values of honesty and integrity.
Reflect forward
To consider the future implications of current actions.
It's important to reflect forward when planning your career.
Reflect across
To affect or apply across different areas or aspects.
The change in policy reflects across all departments.
Reflect Example Sentences
Her actions reflect her commitment to her beliefs.
As we age, we often reflect more on our past choices.
He paused to reflect on the impact of his words.
The windows reflect the sunlight, brightening up the room.
The classroom discussions reflect the diversity of opinions.
It's important to take time to reflect before making big decisions.
Common Curiosities
How is reflect used in a sentence?
Reflect is often used to describe the action of thinking deeply or the process of light/sound being bounced back.
How do we divide reflect into syllables?
Reflect is divided as re-flect.
How many syllables are in reflect?
Reflect has two syllables.
What is the third form of reflect?
The third form is "reflected."
What part of speech is reflect?
Reflect is a verb.
Why is it called reflect?
"Reflect" comes from the Latin "reflectere," meaning "to bend back," referring to light or thoughts being turned back.
What is a stressed syllable in reflect?
The stressed syllable in reflect is on the second syllable: re-FLECT.
What is the pronunciation of reflect?
Reflect is pronounced as /rɪˈflɛkt/.
What is the first form of reflect?
The first form is "reflect."
What is the singular form of reflect?
The singular form is reflect.
What is the opposite of reflect?
The opposite of reflect could be "absorb" or "ignore" (for thoughts).
Is reflect a noun or adjective?
Reflect is a verb.
Is reflect an abstract noun?
Reflect is not a noun; it is a verb.
What is the verb form of reflect?
The verb form is "reflect."
Which determiner is used with reflect?
As a verb, reflect does not typically use determiners.
What is the root word of reflect?
The root word of reflect is the Latin "flectere," meaning "to bend."
What is another term for reflect?
Another term for reflect is "mirror."
What is the plural form of reflect?
Reflect does not have a plural form as it is a verb.
Is reflect a collective noun?
No, reflect is not a noun.
What is the second form of reflect?
The second form is "reflected."
Is reflect a negative or positive word?
Reflect is neutral; it does not inherently carry a negative or positive connotation.
Is the word “reflect” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Reflect is a verb and does not act as an object in a sentence.
Is reflect a vowel or consonant?
Reflect starts with a consonant.
Is reflect a countable noun?
Reflect is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is the word reflect Gerund?
Yes, reflecting can be used as a gerund, e.g., "Reflecting on past experiences is helpful."
Which vowel is used before reflect?
Typically, no specific vowel is used directly before "reflect."
Which article is used with reflect?
As a verb, reflect does not take an article.
Is reflect an adverb?
No, reflect is not an adverb.
Is the reflect term a metaphor?
Reflect can be used metaphorically, especially when referring to thoughts or ideas.
Is the word reflect imperative?
Reflect can be used in the imperative mood in commands, e.g., "Reflect on your actions."
Which preposition is used with reflect?
"On" is commonly used with reflect, as in "reflect on your actions."
Which conjunction is used with reflect?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used in sentences involving reflect, especially in complex sentences.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
